KINGWOOD — A representative of the U.S. Census talked with Preston Commissioners Monday about ensuring that every Prestonian is counted in the 2020 census.
Donnie L. Tucker, partnership specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, told Commissioners Dave Price, Don Smith and Samantha Stone about the Complete Counts Committee.
Commissioners agreed to partner with the Census Bureau in the program. The aim is to get local involvement so that as many people as possible are counted.
Certain parts of the state had a low response in the last census, including Preston County.
That was due in part to apathy, lack of internet service and mistrust. But the census count has a direct impact on residents, Tucker said.
“We are in danger of losing one of our members in the House of Representatives because of population count,” he said. “That’s yet to be determined.”
Programs like SNAP, Women Infants and Children (WIC) are funded in part based on population. Federal funding for roads is also impacted by the census, Tucker noted. Since the last census, the State of West Virginia has received $5 billion for various federal programs.
“We want to count everyone once and only once and in the right place,” Tucker said.
As part of the Complete Count Committee, commissioners are considered “trusted voices.” The committee would bring people from each of the county’s 10 municipalities onboard.
Price said for many Prestonians, completing the census online is a problem.
“The internet issue is a big problem in Preston County,” Price said. “I would ask you to go to our senators and tell them you can’t get a good response from Preston County because of the lack of internet.”
Tucker said census takers will also be going door-to-door. Having people from the community fill those jobs makes it more likely residents will respond, he said. Job applications are being taken now.
Smith suggested the census talk with Food For Preston, Fuel For Preston and other organizations that reach people who might not otherwise respond.
Tucker will return and make a presentation to commissioners on forming the committee.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
County Administrator Kathy Mace discussed maintenance projects. Contractors should replace the elevator in the courthouse annex the last week of February, a $60,000 job.
Vendors are looking at the secretary’s office in the circuit judge’s offices. The old carpet will be replaced with laminate flooring, Mace said.
She is also asking vendors for estimates to replace flooring at the Extension Office.
Sheriff Dan Loughrie asked that a professional plumber be called in to look at drains in the basement of the jail. An odor continues to come in, he said. Three offices and a conference room are in the space.
“Last Wednesday it was bad,” Loughrie said of the odor.
Mace said she has contacted City of Kingwood sewer and water people to investigate. It was verified that the odor is not natural gas, she said.
Board of Equalization and Review hearings were set for 11 a.m.-noon Jan. 28, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 1, 7-8 p.m. Feb. 4, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 8, 10-11 a.m. Feb. 13 and 11 a.m.-noon Feb. 19. Taxpayers who have been unable to resolve tax disputes with the assessor can appeal to the commission at these hearings.
Commissioner Stone was appointed to the WVU Extension Service Committee.
