By Chelsea Blair
The last Greenbrier County Commission meeting of the year began with the approval of three Arts and Recreation transfers with a total amount of $9,200 transferred from savings to checking. This included $303.75 to the Meadow River Trail for consulting and AML Grant reimbursement, $9,200 to the Mountaineer Clay Crushers for 2024-2024 storage and targets, and $2,100 for the White Sulphur Springs Fish Hatchery for 2024-2025 Folk Festival expenses.
The first item on the agenda was the consideration of the separation of employment for Cynthia Alley from the Greenbrier County Fiduciary Office, effective Dec. 30. Alley was hired on Sept. 23, 2019. Commissioner President Tammy Shifflett-Tincher made a motion to approve the separation of employment, and the motion passed unanimously.
Next, Britt Ludwig presented a recommendation for the Fiduciary Supervisor vacancy. She proposed Mary Ingles for the position, noting that she had completed the Fiduciary Supervisor training and passed the examination. Commissioner Lowell Rose expressed his support, stating that Mary has done an excellent job for the county since becoming involved with the County Commission office. “I hate to lose her expertise in her current role, but she has the training and is needed for this position,” Rose said. Tammy agreed with Lowell, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Britt then presented a proposal from Greenbrier Environmental Group to facilitate public participation in the 2025 Comprehensive Plan update, along with the associated contracts. She explained that the group had submitted a reasonable proposal to conduct the public input and outreach components of the Comprehensive Planning process. She emphasized that the public input process is a critical and time-consuming part of the plan update, making it essential to accept the proposal. The Greenbrier Environmental Group, having prior experience in this area, was deemed well-suited for the task. The proposal was capped at $10,000, with the group billing according to the time spent on the project. The group would also assist in preparing GIS maps, a key component of the project. Commissioner Richie Holliday made a motion to approve the proposal, and it was approved unanimously.
The commission then moved on to the allocation of funds received through the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Salary Enhancement Fund for crisis response services in support of first responders. Don Havens discussed the funding allocation, explaining that it was part of the EMS Salary Enhancement Bill, which each county can use for crisis response and mental health first aid for first responders. Havens mentioned that nearly all his staff at the 911 center opted to participate, with most completing the courses online. He added that he offered to pay employees upon completion of the courses, as this was part of the budgeted plan.
“I think it’s great that the state recognizes that there are other first responders besides those in the field and has incorporated them into the plan,” said Havens. Thomas Hayes was also present to provide the invoice for the classes, noting that although participation from others in the county was limited, there was still leftover funding. Hayes plans to use the remaining funds to bring in a speaker before the deadline for future presentations. He also shared that they visited seven different schools within the county, bringing in “Heroes for Hire” from Huntington, WV, to discuss suicide prevention and managing daily stress.
“They provided an instrumental discussion, and I’m happy to tap into the funding to benefit the school system and ourselves in the long run,” Hayes said. Tammy made a motion to approve the allocation of $3,007.82 from the EMS Salary Enhancement Fund, and the motion was approved unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was the discussion and consideration of reallocating State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. The county has received $6,732,687 in American Rescue Plan Act funding. The commission previously committed $2.5 million of the funds to the Sam Black-Asbury project, which is currently in the design and permitting phase. Groundbreaking for the project is expected shortly after the new year, weather permitting. Additionally, $4,232,687 of the funds was committed to the renovation and expansion of the Greenbrier County Health Department. While the project is nearing completion, additional expenses are still required.
To ensure that the reporting requirements for the U.S. Treasury are met by the end of the year, the commission needs to finalize an agreement with the Greenbrier County Board of Health. Tammy clarified that the county owns the health department and the property on which the structure stands. The funds are being allocated to the project, and if any funds remain after completion, they will be reallocated. This discussion ensures that everything is in order for reporting and that no funds are returned to the federal government. Tammy expressed appreciation for Kelly’s efforts in understanding the complex process.
The final item on the agenda was the designation of the Commission President. Since a new sheriff will be taking office, the motion to name the Commission President for 2025 was made in advance. Holliday made the motion to name Commissioner Lowell Rose as the Commission President for 2025, and it was approved unanimously.
Before the meeting concluded, the commission announced that the courthouse would be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but would operate during normal hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The commission wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
