CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Still no decision from the Kanawha County Parks and Recreation Commission on the future of parks director Jeff Hutchinson. The commission met in executive session for more than an hour Thursday at Coonskin Park. When members went back on the record they took a vote to table the issue until their next meeting.
Allen Tackett, chairman of the board, said several members want to familiarize themselves with a timber theft case involving trees cut down in Coonskin Park after a hand shake deal between Hutchinson and a local businessman back in 2013.
“They want a chance to read the transcripts so that they are totally familiar with what took place at the trial and allow the personnel committee to meet and discuss and then make a recommendation to the board. We’ll vote on it next meeting,” explained Tackett.
Tensions have been high between the board and Hutchinson since David Bowen was hired to remove 31 trees impacted by the 2012 derecho. Instead of a written contract, the two agreed Bowen would haul away the damaged trees for free and would keep the wood. Instead, Bowen cut down 360 healthy trees.
Last month a Kanawha County jury acquitted Bowen for illegally timbering at the park. Members of the commission made it clear they did not agree with the verdict and some said Hutchinson was to blame for making a bad deal and not better overseeing the project while it was going on.
Tackett said no one wants to rush into a decision involving Hutchinson’s future with the park system without giving it a lot of thought.
“When you make a decision to fire someone or not fire somebody you need to have all your facts so you have a complete picture of what’s went on and what’s happened,” stressed Tackett. “That’s what the board members want to do.”
The next board meeting is set for Oct. 16.