Almost Heaven Habitat for Humanity CEO Michelle Connor visited Durbin Town Council September 13 to explain Habitatﾒs goals for Pocahontas Countyﾒs residents.

AHHH covers Pendleton, Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties and recently partnered with Pocahontas County Free Libraries in construction of the new Durbin Library and Community Center.

ﾓIn Pendleton County, we have a facility that we call our volunteer center,ﾔ Connor said. ﾓWe can host about 68 people per week and, for the most part, weﾒre full. In the spring and the summer we have 68 people per week who literally travel from all over the United States.ﾔ

The volunteers spend the week at the facility and make a financial contribution to AHHH. The donations are used to purchase building materials for construction projects that utilize the volunteers. With the success of the volunteer center in Pendleton County, Connor said AHHH would like to do the same here.

ﾓWe would like to do that here in Pocahontas County,ﾔ she said. ﾓReplicate that model, have a facility here where we could bring volunteers in who could build and repair homes here in Durbin, Bartow and Frank.ﾔ

Initially, AHHH entered into a memorandum of understanding with PCFL to house volunteers at the library once it is completed. Connor explained that this plan is still in place, but until the library is finished, AHHH is looking for another location to use. She saidﾠ PCFL director Allen Johnson suggested the bunk house, which the town leases from the Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.

ﾓWe, too, thought it would be a suitable location and could utilize it as early as spring break, which would be about February or March, when our volunteer groups start to come,ﾔ she said.
Connor added that the DGVR board of directors will discuss the issue at a meeting later in the month, but she wanted to get the townﾒs blessing, as well.

Council was in agreement that the partnership would be a positive move for Durbin.

ﾓIt sounds like a win/win to me,ﾔ recorder John Osborne said.

Connor said she will update council once the DGVR board makes its decision.

In other business:

ﾕ Mayor Donald Peck said the council made the decision to take legal action against anyone who is at least three months behind on their town bills.

ﾕ Council approved the resignation of town recorder Paul Ransom and councilmember John Osborne. Osborne resigned his post to become the new town recorder.

ﾕ Peck said the former post office plot on Main Street is in disarray, and has become an ﾓeyesore.ﾔ Council has sent several letters to the property owner, asking him to clean up the area. With no response from the property owner, council voted to have the property cleaned.

Council agreed to send another letter to the property owner to inform him the town will clean the property and charge him for the costs incurred by the town.

ﾕ Several residents have donated money to buy a new banner for the townﾒs beautification league. The town has a total of nine banners. The beautification league plans to purchase Christmas banners for the winter season.

Osborne said he would like the league to purchase nicer decals for the town truck. Resident Buster Varner said he would donate the decals and have them put on the truck.

ﾕ Council signed a hazard mitigation plan resolution from Region 4. The plan will cover the town in case of any natural disaster.

ﾕ Varner, a Mahindra tractor dealer, informed council that Mahindra is offering a special for the month of September. He told council if it is interested in purchasing a new tractor for the town, he would assist them with the purchase. Varner said the tractor has a 52-inch heavy duty deck, which would shorten the amount of time to mow around the lagoon and in the town.

Council agreed to look at the tractor and have the town worker take it for a test drive before making a decision.

ﾕ Jason Bauserman, of Bauserman and Sons, Inc., gave an update on the town hall renovations. He purchased windows from Simonton in Pennsboro, and said the garage doors would be installed this week.

Council signed a Region 4 resolution for Bauserman to receive payment through the Region 4 grant.

ﾕ Council approved purchase of tires for the town truck in preparation for the winter.

ﾕ Peck said the town received a chemical from a company named Eliminator to kill duck weed at the lagoon. The company said to try the chemical and, if it worked, it would send a bill in October. If the chemical doesnﾒt work, the town can send it back at no cost.