The Inter-Mountain photo by Tim MacVean Kaitlynn Bolyard, on behalf of Tygarts Valley Fairs and Festivals, makes a funding request to the Randolph County Commission Thursday for the organization’s annual Christmas dinner.

The Inter-Mountain photo by Tim MacVean
Kaitlynn Bolyard, on behalf of Tygarts Valley Fairs and Festivals, makes a funding request to the Randolph County Commission Thursday for the organization’s annual Christmas dinner.

ELKINS — Randolph County Commissioners unanimously approved authorization for the commission president to sign a complaint form against an area phone service provider.

During their Thursday meeting, commissioners decided extra action be taken against Frontier Communication after receiving multiple complaints about insufficient services to parts of the county.

“Over the course of the last six to nine months, we have received a tremendous amount of complaints with the quality of phone service in the southern part of our county,” Randolph County Commissioner Mark Scott said. “Particularly in the 304-339 exchange. We have contacted Frontier on several occasions and each time, all they want to do is go to the homes of the people that are complaining.”

Scott added he does not believe the problems are stemming from the lines that run to the homes.

“The problem is that the issue is not with the line that runs from the main line to the home. It is the main line that is the issue. We have expressed this multiple times with them,” he said. “They seem to just ignore the fact that you have got to fix the main line and you can’t just keep going back to the same homes.”

After an investigation into the issue by county officials, they found they could file a complaint against the company, Scott said.

“We literally have some constituents who have had Frontier at their homes six different times telling them the exact same thing six different times, and so I asked if we could do some research to find out what we can do besides repeatedly calling Frontier, and there is a process where complaints can be filed to the (Public Service Commission) when issues are not being resolved in a timely manner,” Scott said.

Scott added he believed if this issue continues to go unresolved, a medical emergency could result in the death of a county resident.

“What I suggested to my fellow commissioners is we look at filing a complaint with the PSC against Frontier Communications to get them to fix this main line because, it’s not just a quality issue. A lot of times when you call up there you get a hum and a buzz on the line,” he said. “Many times the static is so thick you cannot hear. If we have one of our older citizens call with a medical emergency to 911 and could not communicate to them, that could cause major issues with getting lifesaving support to them in a timely manner.”

Randolph County Commission President Mike Taylor said it is unfortunate when this type of action is required to get problems fixed.

“Unfortunately, sometimes this is what it takes to spur them along. I know there have been problems with it and people, individuals, have filed complaints but not much has been done,” he said. “I think it would be appropriate for us to draft a correspondence, or a complaint form. We will fill the form out and, if the commission so authorizes, I will sign it on behalf of the commission and we will send it on to the Public Service Commission to get the process started.”

Phyllis Yokum, Randolph County assessor, said this issue is happening in other parts of the county as well, noting her brother, who lives on Middle Mountain, also has issues with his phone service.

“That’s not just happening up the valley. My brother lives on Middle Mountain and he is a 636 exchange,” she said. “His phone has been like that for three weeks. (Frontier Communications) have been there twice and keep promising to come back but they haven’t.”

In other business:

• Commissioners unanimously approved a funding request in the amount of $3,500, to be taken from the hotel/motel tax budget line, for the Tygarts Valley Fairs and Festivals annual Christmas dinner in Mill Creek.

• Commissioners unanimously approved signing a resolution designating the Randolph County Development Authority as the lead economic development organization for the county.

• Commissioners unanimously approved dates for board of review and equalization hearings for the Randolph County Assessor’s Office.