An open letter to the Editor of Dominion Post. This concerns each of you. Please read: ---- I am sorry to say that our Monongalia County Commissioners are at it again. In the newspapers for the past few days, there as been an article referring to our county commissioners taking our ancestors county records....And storing them in an underground safe place in Iron Mountain in Pennsylvania.... These old records from the 1700's and 1800's will be moved from Monongalia County,West Virginia to a high-security, underground storage facility in Pennsylvania.... The article goes on to say that the County Commissioners approved a lease with Iron Mountain in Slippery Rocks,Pennsylvania.... Bartolo states the county will lease the storage room in 12 month increments for a period of 5 years at the rate of 2700.00 per month or apx 33,000.00 a year. The county ( Monongalia ) is paying Iron Mountain to install shelving & prepare the documents for transfer at a cost of 22613.00 Supposedly, the documents are now "scattered" around the court house in several storage areas. Bartolo goes on to say "We are not taking care of them ( the documents ) now. "We're throwing them in the basement and it's out of sight out of mind." ---- In today's newspaper January 31,2009, it states that Iron Mountain is Commissioner's top pick for storage. The commission signed a lease with Wednesday's meeting? According to Carye Blaney,County Clerk, she was given permission to seek a contract with Iron Mountain in February,2008. Blaney stated "If there was an instance where the county would need the original documents, such as a court case, she could drive the 3 & 1/2 hours it takes to get to the facility and pick them up in person, or she could call the facility have the documents faxed to her." Why are our documents not cared for properly in the courthouse? How long has the county commissioners and other's known about this lack of responsibility and care of our history? Archival isn't a new word folks..................... There are other methods of preserving old documents, wills, land records,deeds, court cases, etc.. ---- Why hasn't our county commissioners created a position here in Morgantown for an archivist to manage and preserve these pieces of history? And why,is the county commissioners taking the records out of Monongalia County,West Virginia and moving them to a storage facility 3 and 1/2 hours away? When did the people of Monongalia Co. Vote on this? Not a situation to vote on? Excuse me, but my ancestor's records are buried in that mess you had tossed into the basement of the courthouse, and I feel I should have a say as to what needs to be done with them. ---- Genealogists around the country are grinding their teeth. How can a descendent view old documents of their ancestors if it isn t available to view? ---- Microfilm...oh the yellow stuff you referred to isn't a medium to care for old documents. It's a way to copy old documents and it sounds as if NO ONE in that courthouse has taken responsibility for preserving the old documents ---- Until now our intelligent county commissioners( lol )have decided to move these documents out of Monongalia County,West Virginia but wait, out of the state of West Virginia into Pennsylvania...... These documents, and other records are already in the state of fading, tearing, and falling apart. People should not be handling documents like these. I agree, however, it makes more sense to digitally copy these records & transcribe these records and then microfilm them. ******* The County Commissioners should have a professional archivist to come to Morgantown,Monongalia County,West Virginia These documents should be placed in archival sheets, transcribed and indexed for further reference, placed in archival containers and placed in WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY LIBRARY!!! An underground storage unit will not be a better place because it is underground. Caring for these documents need constant human attention. Preservation needs to be done properly not hap-hazardly. For Pete's sake ! Will Monongalia County ever get intelligent representation? West Virginia University owes Morgantown,Monongalia County,West Virginia and what a better place to store these old records then in Morgantown,Monongalia County,West Virginia ? We the people of this county, have put up with West Virginia University's students, traffic,football games, crimes, higher rent, etc... For so long that WVU can repay Morgantown by keeping these records in archival storage for free. If the county commissioners have that kind of money to waste then explain to me why certain areas in Monongalia County,West Virginia ... Are without proper water lines? Isn't that the county's responsibility? Or are the commissioners picking and choosing what they support now? People do something. Write to your editor, put your own opinion in print ! Call the Monongalia County,West Virginia County Commissioners and complain. These documents will be taken out of the ordinary man's view. So much for lineage research. If you don't agree with my opinion then delete this email. If you agree that Monongalia Co's Morgantown, WV records should be archived properly and stored in Morgantown, WV then pass my email on At least, someone cares enough to let you know where our records are going to end up. ---- Barbara Tichenor Herron Registrar Elizabeth Ludington Hagans - Col. John Evans Chapter Morgantown,WV 26501 **************Who's never won? Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?ncid=emlcntusmusi00000003)