After nine months as county coordinator, it’s fair to ask: “How’s that working out?”  My assessment is that the results are mixed and some adjustments are needed. 
I’ve had modest success on projects that do not compete with ongoing initiatives or established positions.  For example, I think I’ve made a positive difference on the issue of expanding post-secondary education opportunities for county residents beyond the nursing program offered by New River Community and Technical College (NRCTC) and the high school.  The County Commission recently received a letter from NRCTC in which they committed to planning a Marlinton facility to start in the Fall of 2011.  Significant effort by a lot of people and funding by several organizations will be needed in the next 13 months to demonstrate the concept of a One Room University.  The project seems to have broad public support and I want to help make it work. 
Last October, there was a well-founded fear that the Buckskin Council was seriously considering selling or closing the Scout camp at Dilley’s Mill.  Recently, Scouts’ representatives said they are still considering sale of the 1,200 acre tract west of Route 28, but that the camp itself is safe.  That is progress, and even though I haven’t spent a lot of time on this issue, I think I’ve helped move it in a positive direction.
Also, I assisted the County Commission’s recent “planning to plan” initiative to develop a comprehensive plan.  I considered my role as helping facilitate consideration of comprehensive planning as the Commission tested the waters of public opinion.  The fact that the effort will not proceed as imagined is less important to me than the fact that I supported the Commission as staff.  It is unfortunate that, in the process,  I personally became an issue because of my comments at County Commission meetings, and for advocating planning in this column.  To some, defeating me was as important as defeating the idea of planning because they regard planning as a code word for zoning - which they consider an assault on freedom and liberty.  So, when the Commission backed away, some regarded it as repudiation of me.  Public blurring of the roles of staff and advocate is a disservice to the Commission and undermines the concept of county coordinator, and should not occur again. 
Animal control was one of the issues assigned to me last October.  That was before a series of events starting in December completely transformed the issue.  The County Commission contracted directly with the Humane Society and Allegheny Recreation Center (ARC) to provide a shelter in Marlinton through June 30, 2010.  In March 2010, during the budget process, all parties negotiated funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1.  Then, in May, the Humane Society indicated they would not submit a bid for this fiscal year.  To fill the gap, as a private citizen, I helped form the Pocahontas County SPCA so it could bid on the contract to continue shelter operations at ARC, as the County Commission intended and included in its budget.  So, the unforeseen result is that I helped resolve the animal control issue for now, at least, but not as county coordinator. 
That leaves several issues in which my involvement has been unsuccessful and may be considered by some to be negative or counter-productive, including local foods, expanded broadband communications, and the water resources task force.  In each case, I did not appreciate that discussions had been underway, sometimes for years, by groups that were committed to certain results by certain means.  I quickly found out they didn’t want to be “coordinated,”  by me or anyone else. Understandably, these groups did not want their collective wisdom challenged by a newcomer questioning assumptions and objectives.  I would have felt the same way if our positions were reversed.  While some of these problems can be attributed to lack of shared understanding about roles and responsibilities, I admit I was too aggressive and didn’t take the time to understand the history of the issues.  I apologize to anyone I offended. 
Also, I didn’t make friends by my comments about various budget issues that arose when the current budget was being prepared.  Despite being asked to participate in discussions, my role was unclear, and I unnecessarily offended various officials by being skeptical about the reliability of future revenues to support libraries, parks and recreation, the courthouse annex and a pay raise for county employees.  My views on these issues remain unchanged, but I am not the county’s budget officer and should not have been so generous with my advice. 
For several months, I have contributed this column to The Pocahontas Times.  Having a deadline has forced me to clarify the ideas and thoughts I want to share with readers as I try to figure out what the role of county coordinator can be or should be - and how I may succeed in performing it.  I’ve come to two conclusions.  First, I can be most effective working on projects with definable objectives where I have a clear role that is understood by me and those with whom I deal.  The One-Room University is the best example and I want to continue managing it.  Second, this column distracts from public understanding of my role as staff to the County Commission and causes some to question why I write it.  I recognize that the longer I continue the column the more the danger increases that it will become more about vanity than ideas. 
Of the issues I was asked to address during this two-year trial as county coordinator, the One Room University has the greatest potential to positively affect the county’s future.  Because I don’t want to undermine that possibility, I’ve decided to stop writing this column.  Thanks to those who have taken the time to read previous pieces which even I think were too long.  I remain available if you want to talk. 
Jay Miller may be contacted at 304-799-4950 or by email at pocahontascoordinator@gmail.com.