Dear Editor:

Drew Tanner’s article in last week’s copy of the Times concerning the vote of the County Library Board to close the Durbin Library was indeed depressing. The heart and soul of any community is its religious and educational institutions. Durbin lost it’s school years ago and the effects are still felt.

The remaining educational institution, the Durbin Library, is now being closed. This effect will be devastating to the community as there is nothing that can take its place.

The Library is unique in several ways. It is a place everyone can visit and receive services at no cost. Individuals of all ages are welcome. Its personal computers are available to those who want to avail themselves, a vital service in itself. I wonder what might happen to those seniors who have no computers of their own but need one to enroll for various services offered by government, i.e. Medicare senior drug plan. Traveling to another library is not a viable alternative to some citizens. Not only are the computers present, but expert help as well.

I feel that this decision should be beyond the Library Board. Its closing would be a countywide disaster. When one points with pride at their communities, I am certain that the County leaders as well as those of the local communities of Marlinton and Green Bank do so highlighting  their libraries. Continuing the operation of the Durbin Library is a responsibility of Durbin’s government, its citizenry, its business and religious leaders, as well as the County Commission. I would hope that there will be a reevaluation of this situation and these agencies be directly involved. Realizing its value to Durbin and Pocahontas County, I further believe that the effort to sustain the Durbin Library should be led by the Town Mayor and the Town Council. I further believe that the financial difficulties outlined in Mr. Tanner’s article be an agenda item of the County Commission and effort by them be made to specifically assist in resolving the Durbin Library’s and County Library Department’s dilemma.
Sincerely,

Benjamin F. Poscover, Ed.D.
Towson, MD
(Born and raised in Durbin and
currently a summer resident)

Dear Editor:

I am glad of Beth Little’s interest, unfortunately, with  Ed Riley as her only source of information, her letter  presents a lopsided picture.

Few disagree that wastefulness is  bad , and “solid waste” is a  problem.

WV Code §22-15-1 states, “ … that solid waste disposal is a universal problem …”; “solid waste disposal has inherent … negative impact on local communities”, and , “results in the squandering of valuable … resources …; (6) .. resource recovery and recycling reduces the need for landfills and extends their life;  (7) … resource recovery or recycling of solid waste is for the general welfare of … this state.”  Also, “…. that the amount of solid waste … must be limited … to protect this state's environment and the public ….”

It establishes a “Waste Hierarchy”,  §22C-4-1:   “ It is … the purpose of the Legislature to reduce our solid waste management problems …by requiring … solid waste authorities to establish programs and plans based on an integrated waste management hierarchy…. :
(1) Source reduction…..
(2) Recycling, reuse and materials recovery…..
(3) Landfilling. -- To the maximum extent possible, this option should be reserved for nonrecyclables and other materials that cannot practically be managed in any other way. This is the lowest priority in the hierarchy and involves the waste management option of last resort.”   (all underlining mine)

It requires “walk” to go with the “talk, in §22C-4-8:  “Each … solid waste … plan shall include …. (10) Innovative incentives to promote recycling …”.

But Ed’s one-size-fits-all system of funding Green Box service provides no incentive  to protect the environment or  resources by reducing waste, nor to reduce how fast we turn  land  into landfill; also no incentive to dispose of anything properly.  It’s still easier to have a burn barrel or toss it over the hill than to go to the Green Boxes.  This is rarer now only because people know  that it is wrong , dangerous, and punishable .

Because folks with less money tend to buy less stuff and therefore  have less to throw away, the current system  forces poorer people to pay for the wasteful habits of the richer.

Beth may like to pay for the more voluminous waste of less careful or less concerned people, but it is not right that she, or our system, should force all to.

Nobody intends ending or curtailing  the Green Box service;  I have several times tried to get my fellow Authority members to extend the sites’ hours from two days a week (soon  2 ?, by order  the PSC), to 24/7.

Nobody challenges the value of our local landfill for what cannot be recycled; nobody wishes to threaten it. But the current system does, by encouraging it to fill up sooner.

US  EPA, in promoting  pay as you throw,”  says localities which adopt such systems reduce their waste by 15% to 50%.   Economic self-interest and  free choice  saving the environment, Wow!

Our landfill  started in 1986.  The cost to build “cells” for the trash,   cover them  when full, and monitor them  after closure has gone up , as DEP has become more demanding and the cost of everything has increased.   Several hours of examining  SWA records , finding   actual costs for engineering, digging, liners, covers, and monitoring  (costs that follow the amount of trash), gives  at least thirty dollars per ton,  not including   costs for buying, placing, maintaining  Green Boxes, or of hauling  trash thence to the landfill. The rest of the SWA’s charges cover costs like rent, staff, and equipment  that don’t change much with changes in amount of trash handled.

$30 is  ? of the current $40 per ton charged at the landfill (the extra $8.75 is taxes).  If the total amount of trash were reduced by half, the  cost of  the system would drop  at least 3/8.   Folks with  lots of trash, paying by the bag, would pay more, but Pocahontas County as a whole would pay significantly less.

There are many numbers I couldn’t find  for this letter, and much that won’t fit, especially  the unknown and doubtless huge cost of a new  site, when the current landfill is filled  in a few years, but  they would only sharpen my point.

I believe that  “usage-sensitive rates” or  “pay as you throw” is not only what the law requires, what the environment needs,  not only simple justice,  but  good for the pocketbook.

“This is the way we have always done it,” is not good enough.  I invite Beth, and everyone, to help me and the SWA create a fairer, better system.

John Leyzorek
Indian Draft

Dear Editor

On Saturday, October 28th, I had the honor and privilege of seeing Senator Byrd at the State Fair Grounds in Lewisburg, West Virginia.

I am still in awe of the atmosphere in the room as he walked in, as he stood behind the podium speaking softly but with power and determination.  A copy of the Constitution of the United States always in the Senator’s breast pocket.  In a world that is full of fight and trouble, somehow this senator made me sit up a little straighter, hold my head a little higher, look more longing and loving at the blue sky and purple mountains of our great state.  I came out of that room feeling even more proud to be a West Virginian and an American because Senator Byrd has such passion for both. I was lucky to be living in this place, where neighbor knows neighbor, where people are honest, hard working and care about one another. You see, Senator Byrd really does care, he cares about all people in this State and Nation. He is genuine.

My grandmother lived to be 103 years old.  After her death we found personal letters from Senator Byrd, dating back to the 50s.  Every correspondence or call made to him, received a personal reply.  Every letter folded neatly, kept and treasured through her lifetime. I doubt if you could say this about other senators of this day.

This man—our Senator for many years now—has a wealth of information from experiences all over this State and Nation.  He spoke of visits that he had made to different towns and cities all over West Virginia. Many years ago, I remember Senator Byrd taking the time to stop at the small post office at Mill Point, where my mother, Elsie Long, was postmaster – just to shake hands with her and tell her that as long as he was our senator that he “will not let them close your post office down.”  And he did not.  This was during a period where many small post offices were closed throughout the State.

During Senator Byrd’s speech, he recited two poems of great length by memory.  One of which follows this letter.  There should not be any question in the minds of the people of our Great State about Senator Byrd’s capabilities to serve as our Senator.  You can not replace the experience, the respect, and the seniority that this senator has in Washington and in our State.  Senator Byrd has spent most of his long life working for the people of West Virginia and I think it is time that we give back to him. He has always been there for "us,” now we need to be there for him.  Thank you for your time.

Susan C. Hefner Kershner
Droop Mountain