At its last meeting, the court voted unanimously to join the Federation for American Coal, Energy and Security, or FACES of Coal.
According to the FACES website, the mission of the group is to campaign for the economic prosperity coal provides through good jobs and affordable energy, to protect national security and tradition of self-reliance through the use of coal, to preserve the environment by promoting good stewardship of our natural resources and to strengthen communities by advancing technologies that mine coal using safe and environmentally and economically responsible mining methods.
“The coal industry is under attack,” Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford said. “It is imperative to support the coal industry; we have done a poor job of it in the past.”
The judge went on to say that coal has been made out to be the bad guy in the media, and that should not be the case.
“Electrification is the greatest thing to ever happen to this country,” he said. “And coal produces 50 percent of that electricity. Nothing else can take its place. Coal is a hero, not a villain.”
In other action taken by the court:
• Approval was given to contribute matching funds for playground equipment at six parks in the county.
Jarrod Hunt, Parks and Recreation Director for the county, explained Game-time Equipment is providing a matching grant for each park. This funding means the county will only pay half the of the usual cost for the equipment.
• The court also agreed to replace a bridge at Stone that was destroyed in May flooding.
• Approved a motion to join the National Safety Council, a group that works with companies and organizations to prevent injuries and deaths on the job. Membership in the council will reduce workers’ compensation insurance rates and work with issues such as distracted driving, teen driving, workplace safety, and safety in the home and community.
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