STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA, COUNTY OF PRESTON, Ss:

The Preston County Commission met in Regular Session at 9:30 a.m., September 30, 2019

in the County Commission Meeting Room.

The meeting was called to order by President Dave Price who invited those present to join

in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Price then declared the following Commissioners present: Samantha

Stone, Don Smith and Dave Price.

Also present was Shannon Wolfe, Administrator.

The following persons registered their attendance during the meeting:

Kathy Plum – The Dominion Post Theresa Marthey – Preston County News and Journal

Deanna Lively Terri Sypolt

Connie Ervin-Assessor Savannah Wilkins-Prosecutor’s Office

Richelle Layman-RDVIC Shelly Moreland-RDVIC

Mike Adams-PSD#1 Duane Hamilton-OEM/911

Crystal Bolyard

No one registered prior to the meeting to address the Commission.

Commissioner Smith moved to authorize payment of all properly presented and approved

invoices. Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners

Smith, Stone and Price voting yes. Motion carried.

There was no Tax Correction List, Notice of Apportionments, Consolidation of Land or

County Court Splits.

Recognition of Scheduled Appointments

9:33 a.m. Road Update

• Commissioners reported that Route 72 will begin ditching and paving. The

slip repair will be started as soon as a crew frees up.

• There have been discrepancies on work that was done on Tunnelton Street.

According to the DOH, the city painted the curbs yellow in front of the Home

Town Diner and in front of Councilman Dick Shaffer’s home.

• The DOH will be moving on to the Bruceton area as soon as the contractors

get caught up and will work as long as weather permits.

• Brandonville Pike is also being paved.

9:35 a.m. Rape and Domestic Violence Information Center (RDVIC), Shelly Moreland-

Domestic Violence Awareness Proclamation

President Price introduced Shelly Moreland with the Rape and Domestic

Violence Center who asked Commissioner Price to read the Domestic Violence

Proclamation and also advised that they will be holding a candlelight vigil Friday,

October 4, 2019 around 6:30 p.m. at Brown’s Park.

Commissioner Smith made a motion to declare October as Rape and

Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Commissioner Stone seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Smith, Stone and Price voting yes.

Motion carried. (See attached.)

9:40 a.m. Duane Hamilton, OEM-Employee Status change and Building OEM Storage

Garage

President Price introduced Duane Hamilton, Director of OEM/911 with an

employee status change and request to discuss building a storage garage.

Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the status change for 911

Operator Logan Seigh from part time to irregular full-time effective October 1, 2019.

Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with

Commissioners Smith, Stone and Price voting yes. Motion carried.

Mr. Hamilton told Commissioners that he is wishing to build a building at the

911 Center to house their equipment and explained that when they initially

constructed the 911 Center there was a roughed in area for a building. Over the years

they have received several thousand dollars in grants for equipment that sits out in

the rain. He said squirrels get in the generators and chew the wires which cause them

to fail.

He has received quotes from 3 contractors to construct a metal building made

of 12-gauge galvanized steel with 14 ft garage doors that are hurricane resistant. The

quote does not include wiring. He will supply the footer and they will place the

building on the footer and gravel it in for now and concrete the floor later. The

building is designed to be able to drive straight thru. The low bid came in at

$41,870.00 from Cardinal.

Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the purchase of the steel

building for equipment at the 911 Center. Commissioner Stone seconded the motion.

A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Smith, Stone and Price voting yes.

Motion carried. (See attached.)

10:15 a.m. Public Service District #1-Update

Commissioner Price introduced Mike Adams PSD#1 board member with an update

on their water shortage situation that has occurred since the water behind the dam was

drained to replace the dam but then a shortage of water occurred due to the lack of rainfall.

The district ordered a mandatory water conservation after the water levels from the back up

water supply from Impoundment 6 became so low.

There was much discussion about pumping some water from Clinton District,

Kingwood Water Works and Arthurdale Water but this would still leave them short per day.

They also received approval from the state to begin taking water from Blue Hole and Green

Hole that is an old abandoned rock quarry mine behind the West Preston School in

Arthurdale but the expense for fuel to power the pumps is expensive. West Virginia

University offered the use of equipment but they lack the staff to install the pipe and keep

everything else up and running.

President Price asked if the National Guard could help. Commissioner Smith replied

that there is a federal reserve unit that lays pipeline but it would be hard to arrange.

The dam project costs about $7.8 million. Mr. Adams said they began this project

financially stable but the project has run over a year and may go over another year. The PSD

was allotted $120,000.00 to deal with the water difficulties as part of it. If the state approves

it, customers may see an increase on their water bills from $16 to $18.

Delegate Terri Sypolt was in attendance and suggested that they apply to the

governor’s emergency contingency fund but they would need a specific amount. Mr. Adams

estimated they would need $300,000.00. She also suggested they reach out to federal

representatives.

Approval of Minutes – September 16, 2019

Commissioner Smith made a motion to approve the minutes of September 16, 2019.

Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners

Smith, Stone and Price voting yes. Motion carried.

Proceedings in Vacation -September 18, 2019 through September 24, 2019

Under NEW BUSINESS Commissioner Smith moved to dispense with the reading in open court of the

proceedings of the Clerk of this Commission, had in vacation on September 18, 2019 thru September 24,

2019 inclusive, and to approve and confirm the same as presented by the County Clerk, there having been

no exception or objections filed thereto. (See attachment)

Commissioner Stone seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Smith, Stone and Price voting yes. Motion carried. Estate Settlements – September 16, 2019 thru September 20, 2019

Commissioner Stone moved that the proceeding estate settlements and/or waivers thereof, having been filed for a period of ten (10) days prior to the commencements of this term and there being no exceptions or objections filed thereto, be approved and confirmed. (See attached.)

Commissioner Smith seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioners Stone, Smith

and Price voting yes. Motion carried.

Fiduciary Commissioner Order – None

Old Business – Consideration and/or action

New Business – Consideration and/or action

Administrator’s Report – Consideration and/or action

Commissioner Price recognized Shannon Wolfe for the Administrators Report.

A. Update on Election Center

Ms. Wolfe said she spoke to the potential landlord and a draft lease is prepared for

the Commissions consideration for space at the corner plaza for an election center. She

should have this available for the next meeting.

Commissioner Stone is not convinced that this is the best place available. She is

concerned about the heating/cooling costs and mold issues. Ms. Wolfe stated she did

not see any evidence of mold and that the landlord has put in new heating/cooling units

and the roof has been replaced.

Commissioner Price suggested that Don and Samantha go down to the plaza and do

a walk thru with Ms. Wolfe.

B. Report on REAP Grant and E-Recycling

Ms. Wolfe noted that there was 29,987 pounds of recycling collected at the

E-Cyclying Event held September 14, 2019. The total cost including lunch for the

volunteers from the Challenge Academy and city employees is $12,941.78. The

total grant amount was $16,305.00. This is $3,363.22 under what the state provided

to the county in the grant.

Ms. Wolfe sent thank you notes to all the volunteers.

C. Update on Courthouse Facilities Grant

Ms. Wolfe updated the Commissioners on the Courthouse Facilities

Grant to reseal and repoint the courthouse stone.

She said when the Mills Group came and surveyed the building they

determined that the project should not be resealing the courthouse and

repointing the mortar but suggested reframing the project to look at how to

fix the ground water issue that has damaged the first floor and has been an

issue for years. The Mills Groups recommended that it would need to be a

phased project because of the expense.

The are looking at a 5-yr project with the first year doing exploratory test

products on the corners to keep water from seeping in and then continue with one

side of the courthouse per year. They guesstimate the project to cost $250,000.

D. Vehicle for Tunnelton Volunteer Fire Department

Ms. Wolfe prepared a vehicle lease agreement with the Tunnelton

Volunteer Fire Department to be used for medical calls and presented it to the

prosecutor. He came back with some concerns in that the leasing even though we

charge them $1 for a year or a month and they cover the insurance and the

maintenance it still presents a liabilty issue for the county because the county has

ownership of the vehicle. He suggested selling the vehicle to them. The value of

the Ford Explorer is $4,000.00.

The Commissioners asked what was the difference in this lease and the

lease agreement done with Rowlesburg? Ms. Wolfe said the prosecuting attorney

said he did not prepare the lease and does not recall the lease. They are going to

look into it.

E. Sale of truck to Tucker County Commission

The Sheriff’s surplus vehicle was sold to Tucker County for $10,500.00. It

was picked up on Thursday. The check was deposited, they have the title. Ms.

Wolfe will be mailing them the bill of sale today.

F. Royce building on Preston County Commission Property

It was brought to the attention of Ms. Wolfe from the realtor for the Royce Property, that adjoins county property, that a storage building in the back corner of the Royce lot, adjacent to the County parking lot, is actually on county property.

When the bank owned the current Annex Building, which was then WesBanco Bank, and Max Buric was President of the bank, he had a gentlemans agreement with the home owner to have the building placed there. Half of the building sits on county property. There is also a city alley back there as well.

President Price determined that the bottom line is the building has to be

moved or torn down.

G. Preston County Health Department request to use the lower parking lot for a

mobile dental clinic

Commissioner Stone made a motion to allow the Preston County Health

Department to use the lower parking lot for a mobile dental clinic on October 7,

2019 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Commissioner Smith seconded the motion. A roll call

vote was taken Commissioners Stone, Smith and Price voting yes. Motion carried.

(See attached.)

H. Budget Revisions

Preston County Commission

DECREASE 001-699-999-99 $ 10,045.00

INCREASE 001-700-101 $ 8,394.00

INCREASE 001-700-104 $ 643.00

INCREASE 001-700-106 $ 1,008.00

DECREASE 001-401-566 $ 3,830.00

INCREASE 001-442-103-16 $ 3,076.00

INCREASE 001-442-104-16 $ 236.00

INCREASE 001-442-105-16 $ 47.00

INCREASE 001-442-106-16 $ 308.00

INCREASE 001-442-226-16 $ 7.00

INCREASE 001-442-218-16 $ 106.00

INCREASE 001-442-214-16 $ 50.00

I. Miscellaneous Correspondence

Peronnel Matters-Consideration and/or action

Legal Matters-Consideration and/or action

Information

A. Minutes – September 23, 2019

B. Miscellaneous Correspondence

Commissioners Comments

Commissioner Smith has SWA meeting October 7, 2019 @ 6:00 p.m. and CVB meeting

Thursday.

Commissioner Stone commented that the livestock sale at the Buckwheat Festival was an

excellent sale and that Governor candidate, Woody Thrasher, bought the Grand Champion

Buckwheat.

President Price attended the County Commission Association meeting to discuss

supporting and opposing issues for the upcoming legislative session and said the WV Insurance

Risk Pool meeting was excellent.

At 11:03 a.m. there being no further business to come before the Commission, President Price declared the Regular Session adjourned.

____________________________________ Commissioner ____________________________________

Commissioner

_____________________________________ Commissioner

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09/30/2019