Usually attended by only a handful of citizens, the August 1 meeting had over 100 local businessmen and businesswomen, gas industry workers, and local supporters of the drilling industry. They had come in droves to object to the July 6 ordinance, and to voice opposition to a newly proposed ordinance which would ban residential use of recreational vehicles.
The July 6 drilling ordinance proclaimed “the exploration, extraction, production…for oil and gas…including the installation and maintenance of any production equipment…within the corporate limits is strictly prohibited.” The passing of the code had come as quite a shock to the people of the area who had not been aware of the council’s plan until they had already voted on it. In New Martinsville ordinances under consideration must be publicly posted at City Hall but no other notice of the council’s actions is required, other than the two mandatory readings of the new law.
The local papers had not covered the first reading of the ordinance, so when the council approved the second reading of the ordinance and the results were published first on July 20 in the Wetzel Chronicle , the citizens were taken aback . By the time other papers on July 29 had picked up the story, gas industry representatives were expressing their dismay at the city’s decision. “We have to react,'' said Michael McCown, president of the West Virginia Independent Oil & Gas Association in a Charleston Gazette interview. "We do not want to do commerce in communities that do not want our business.''
When New Martinsville businessmen such as Don Riggenbach who also is head of the Wetzel County Chamber of Commerce read these words, he and others knew something had to be done to stop the snowball of adverse publicity for the area. Businesspeople believe the gas industry and its related support services had pulled the area back from the brink of a failing economy. Calls were made, emails exchanged, and by the time the August 1 meeting came to order, the show of support for the oil and gas industry made the council sit up and take notice. Councilman Steve Pallisco began by saying, “I’m for the (oil and gas) industry…We want their business-- we really do. We want to get this thing resolved.”
Nineteen speakers had signed up to address the audience, and only one of those defended the council’s ordinance saying he knew council had only been acting in the city’s best interests when they had banned the drilling activities for fear of water contamination. However, members of the audience were quick to point out no one had been given the chance to offer a different view.
The supporters seemed to be divided into two groups: those who had come to express their general appreciation of the industry and its positive economic effect on the area, and those who were renting out or occupying recreational vehicles and therefore objected to the city banning their use within the city. This RV ordinance would directly affect not only many gas workers who were living in trailers or motor homes, but also the owners of those camps who had specifically set up the accommodations for the workers.
One such businessperson who spoke to the crowd was Dianna Powell who rents out RVs, and has a laundromat, car wash and apartments. She said the rig workers spend a lot of money in area stores. “We need their business…When I clean their apartments I find their receipts—they ARE buying locally.”
A worker from Calhoun County, Dana Godfrew, who has relocated to Wetzel and lives in a camp, defended himself and his work ethic: "I came here to make a living. I like it here....We're as normal as you guys...If you want to get a job, you can, but you have to pass the drug test...We're normal working people--don't ban us." His statement like many others was followed by supportive applause.
David Hunt, whose wife operates a bed and breakfast, echoed Godfrew’s words saying, "I see how the workers behave....They come home, shower, eat, and go to bed. You don't even know they're there...Their business saved our business."
John Joe Mensore, owner of J. C. Mensore Distributors said council’s actions had negative effects: “Council is non-friendly to business...It’s not a big deal to say we might have made a mistake…Let's be FOR something, not against everything all the time. Rescind it all!" Through loud applause he added, "We don't need adverse publicity."
Representing the construction trades, “Boo” Litman, owner of Litman Excavating and Construction, and whose wife also manages a campground, expressed how much the gas industry had added to his business. "We used to have 17 employees--now we have 106, and we're still hiring. This is our opportunity. We won't see it again."
An emotional plea came from Christy Leek who said the area at all costs should strive to welcome the gas trade saying, "If we have to pitch tents to keep them here, that's what we should do!"
Agreeing, restaurant proprietor Matt Quinet said, "I'm 28 years old. There was nothing in this town for my generation--now there is gas." He said an industry job interview session held in his restaurant at no charge was very successful, "Sixty-five people got hired!"
Bill Talkington presented his support of the industry from the viewpoint of a farmer who has a Marcellus well on his property. He said he had no negative experiences with the drillers, telling the council their fears were unwarranted, "You're not in any danger...Don't kill the goose that laid the golden egg."
The council did not have to deliberate at all to decide to revisit the first ordinance banning industry activities, and they have already scheduled a special council meeting for August 5 at 3 p.m. On the agenda is the recommendation that the oil and gas ban be rescinded. The council also voted on August 1 to table the ordinance banning recreational vehicle use within the city limits. As Mayor Lucille Blum put it, “We are reconsidering—that’s why we’re here.”