By Peggy Mackenzie
A packed agenda for the Tuesday morning Greenbrier County Commission meeting brought a gathering of tow truck and wrecker owners from around the county to hear the amended wrecker policy. Eleven amendments were under discussion for approval by the commissioners.
Mike Honaker, executive director of the 911 Center, said there are still some tough decision to make regarding the amended policy, first enacted in October 2017. A few primary issues may still need tweaking. As Honaker stated, with the several separate parties involved, including wreckers, fire and emergency crews, various law enforcement agencies, the 911 Center dispatchers and the county commission, there are going to be complaints, he admitted, no matter what. “I’m a policy man,” he said, “and if the complaint process is more clearly defined and documented, there should be fewer problems.” Most of the 11 amendments were settled without dispute and agreed upon unanimously by the commissioners, but still two or three will be given a six-month review before being revisited again.
In other business:
Honaker said the 911 Center is seeking an outside employment disclosure policy for the 911/OES offices, similar to what the Sheriff’s Department uses. The point is to not tarnish the stature of a public safety agency with conflicts of interest or embarrassments.
Margaret Hambrick, speaking on behalf of preserving history, asked the commission to sign a resolution with the Historical Society on the acquisition and development of the Arbuckle Fort property by the WV Land Trust for preservation of endangered species. Hambrick also asked the commission to consider conveying the inner circle of property, owned by the county, on which the fort stands to the land trust as well.
Two resolutions were approved: the Victims of Crimes Act Grant awarded at $48,618 and the second to the Justice Assistance Grant for $15,000 to cover expenses for the Drug Task Force.
Shannon Morris was approved as a new deputy hire for the Sheriff’s Department to serve at the Rainelle office.
Former Lewisburg Police Chief Tim Stover was approved to serve as part-time Civil Process Server with the county.
Circuit Clerk Louvonne Arbuckle was approved to hire an employee to fill a vacancy. She asked if she could also add funds to the department’s salary line in order to keep the employees she has. The salaries, she said, are too low and since July three employees have left the office for that reason. Commissioner Lowell Rose said the commission would take up her proposal at the next meeting.
The Commission approved two project resolutions for the WSS TIF project. Both the sewer line project and the access road project are nearing completion. The Sam Black water line extension was also approved. Rose said PSD#2 is gearing up to begin the next section of the water line construction covering Clintonville, Alta and Asbury, and also Rainelle to Charmco to further benefit the rural communities in the Meadow River Valley.
County Prosecutor Patrick Via and the commission went into a brief executive session at the end of the meeting to discuss the opioid litigation begun over a year ago. The commissioners stated they will remain a party of the litigation agreement going forward.
