By Dakota Baker
The Greenbrier County Commission met on Tuesday, Apr. 7, and approved several financial items from the Arts and Recreation budget. These included $7,094 for 2025–2026 field maintenance supporting Greenbrier Girls Softball, Central Greenbrier, and Western Greenbrier, as well as an additional $4,932.02 approved for the Meadow River Trail to cover engineering costs associated with Phase 3; these costs will be reimbursed through AML funds. In total, $12,026.02 was approved and authorized for transfer from savings to checking to cover the associated invoices.
Under new business, commissioners considered several items, including a proclamation recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month and announcing Children’s Memorial Flag Day, as well as a proclamation designating Apr. 12-18, 2026, as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Children’s Memorial Flag Day will be observed on Friday, Apr. 24. A request was made to use the courthouse grounds at noon, near the flagpole, for the event, with a courtroom reserved as an alternate location in case of rain. Commissioners approved both the proclamation and the use of courthouse facilities. They also approved the proclamation designating Apr. 12-18 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The commission also reviewed the remaining 75 percent payment for the GigReady Broadband Project (draw requests #13, #14, and #16), along with Change Order #9 for Meadow River Trail Phase 3. The remaining 75 percent represents funds to be reimbursed by the state and subsequently disbursed to vendors as final payment. Commissioners approved the disbursement of these funds upon receipt.
Change Order #9 extends the construction completion date by 30 days due to delays caused by winter weather. The substantial completion date has been moved from Apr. 7, 2026, to May 7, 2026, with no change to the contract amount. The overall project completion date remains May 30, 2026. Commissioners approved the change order.
Members also received an update on the Meadow River Trail and Adventure Meadow River projects. Although winter weather delayed construction, work has resumed. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for June 12 at 10 a.m. at the new Rainelle trailhead. It was also announced that a grant from the James Peyton Foundation has been awarded to support construction of a shelter on the Rainelle side of the trailhead.
Finally, commissioners considered a request from MonPower for an easement on county-owned property located on Harper Road (Parcel ID 9-20-37.2). The proposed easement would extend approximately 60 feet from the road to a power pole. Commissioners noted that the easement would not impact the property or interfere with future plans and approved the request.
