FAIRMONT — West Virginia Congressman David McKinley continues making rounds to visit the counties of his district. 

On Wednesday, McKinley held a roundtable discussion with the Marion County Commission, the county’s attorney Chuck Shields and administrator Kris Cinalli.

“This is a process we are going through, and we have been doing this now for around six years,” McKinley said. “When we are not in session in Washington, I spend time back in the district traveling from one county to another, and we will do about 250 to 300 meetings like this in a year’s time.”

McKinley, a Republican, said the meetings are very effective to learn what is on the minds of people and then to take that message back to Washington.

“We (then) try to implement either an amendment, rule or something that we might be able to put into effect,” he said. “So we are hearing what is on people’s minds and learning what we have to do.”

Before the roundtable, McKinley said he believed the discussions would be about the impact of some of the rules and regulations that have happened recently and the need for money.

“So we have got to find ways to help out for sewer and water lines, infrastructure, bridges and road repair,” McKinley said.

He is also worried about the effect of the coal industry and what it is doing to the state’s employers.

“Last night, just at 8 o’clock, we learned that the UMWA (United Mine Workers of America) rejected the contract with the operators,”?McKinley said. “I don’t know yet the impact ... but we have got to keep our coal miners operating.”

McKinley said Washington needs to realize the effects of shutting down a coal mine or power plant.

“When Washington passes something that shuts down a coal company or a power plant, they have got to understand you are actually affecting a whole community,” he said. “Last week there was a layoff of 5,000 railroad workers across the country as a result of this. I don’t think the administration realized that this war on coal was actually going to affect railroad workers, machinists, carpenters, electricians, belting companies or concrete manufacturers. All of those have to do with the operation of a coal mine or a power plant.”

McKinley said that half of the coal mines have been shut down under this administration.

“Just step back in time and think about it,” McKinley said. “Eight years ago we had the seventh-best rate of employment in the country ... now we are 51st. You can’t regulate the way that they are doing. We have to get more involved and listen to what the people have to say because it is having such a disastrous affect.”

Topics of discussion that came up during the roundtable included the coal and gas industry, especially displacement of coal workers; research for diversification which will in return bring secondary jobs; the steel industry; roads; the state’s answers to the flood; and the ongoing drug problem.

“The whole purpose is not for me to talk to them, but it is to listen to what is on their mind,” McKinley said.

McKinley represents the 1st Congressional District.

“I think it is great every time we have an elected official come in to talk to the elected officials on the county level,” county commission President Ernie VanGilder said. “We like to be on the same page, and I appreciate the fact that he asked for our input and as well we like to ask for his opinions.”

Commissioner Randy Elliott said the roundtable was very important to be able to help identify what is needed here in Marion County.

“You have to identify your strengths and identify your problems,” he said. “(McKinley)?is a big advocate for our coal mines, and that is a big part of Marion County and always has been.”

When talking about the coal industry, VanGilder said the county is very dependent on it.

“We are hoping to develop some other industries in here to kind of offset the loss in jobs in the coal industry,” he said. “I am glad to hear that they are working on research development for the byproducts of coal and pursuing other areas because I am hoping we are going to continue to mine coal in this area for at least the next 30 or 40 years.”

Elliott said there are a lot of issues with the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and regulating the coal mining industry, but it is still an important industry to Marion County.

“Although we are looking to diversify, we still need our coal mines working and coal here in Marion County,” he said. “Congressman McKinley is fighting for that.”

VanGilder said the county is fortunate to not be in the same position as some of the other less-fortunate counties with the drug problem.

“I think that our best thing that we can do to offset these is bring in industry and jobs,” he said. “That will keep the drugs out of individuals’ hands who misuse them. Give them a job and you eliminate the problem with drugs.”

VanGilder said the county is also fortunate to not have received the flooding.

“... But we certainly see the destruction all around us,” he said. “We are all West Virginians and we had no trouble stepping up to the plate, as did all the other counties surrounding us, to go down and help those counties in need.”

McKinley said the flooding really makes him reach into his heart.

“You have to find your soul and find out how you are going to fight back to get through this,” he said.

He also commends the state’s first responders for the hard work and dedication.

“Those volunteers went right to work,” McKinley said. “They didn’t wait for a federal declaration. They went to work. They got in their trucks, got food, cleaning supplies and they went to work to help out. So my hat is off the the first responders all over West Virginia.”