By Dakota Baker
Kara Dense, president and CEO of Experience Greenbrier Valley, highlighted the significant economic impact of tourism in Greenbrier County during a report to the Greenbrier County Commission earlier this week, stating that visitors spent $399.4 million in 2023. This sector supports 2,908 jobs, generates $120 million in earnings, and contributes $41.37 million in state and local taxes, underscoring the significant role tourism plays in the county’s economy.
Raleigh County Commissioner Daniel Hall discussed the Mountain Valley Pipeline project with the Commissioners, which has been operational since June of last year and is now facing demand that exceeds expectations. Hall announced plans for an expansion called “MVP Boost,” which includes increasing compressor capacity along the pipeline route and potentially adding a new compressor station near Roanoke. Additionally, Hall presented a $3,500 grant to Greenbrier County’s homeland security director for the purchase of software for the county’s drones.
Commissioners also approved a motion to transfer a total of $23,270.49 from savings to checking to cover various arts and recreation transfers. This includes $2,970.49 for the Encore Community Arts’ 25-26 ESOD class continuation, $7,000 for LZ Rainelle’s 24-25 Run for the Wall event, $1,300 for Alderson Main Street’s 24-25 market entertainment, and $12,000 for the Ronceverte River Festival’s June 2025 event.
New business consisted of open bids received for the courthouse window replacement project. The first bid from West Virginia Glass Company in Beckley was for $460,237. The second bid was made by Adam Whanger Contracting from White Sulphur Springs for $280,210. Approval of the award for the bids will be made at a later date after further review.
Next on the agenda were open bids received for the courthouse drainage project. No bids were received for this project; however, questions arose regarding the engineering drawings and some potential problems. The open bid was withdrawn at this time.
Additionally, open bids for managed service provider RFP were reviewed. Again, no bids were received.
Following the review of the open bids for various projects, a consideration of payment withdrawal request #13 for the Greenbrier County GigReady Broadband Project. This included two invoices to the engineering firm Thompson and Litton for their engineering and design services for the project for July and August. The first invoice was for $20,450, with 25 percent coming from the TIF funds ($5,112.50) and the remaining 75 percent from grant funds ($15,337.50). The second invoice was for the amount of $20,050; the matching portion from the TIF funds will be $5012.50, and the grant portion will be $15,037.50, making the total amount for the draw request $40,500. The total amount to be requested from the matching funds is $10,125, and the total amount requested from grant funds is $30,375. It was confirmed that these are just engineering invoices, and no “MakeReady” invoices were included. A motion was made to approve the payment of $10,125 for Draw Request #13, which was approved.
Next up was a consideration of a grant application to be submitted by Greenbrier County Community Correction of the West Virginia First Foundation. The grant is through the Burke Foundation and is due Oct. 10. A request was made for a wellness event that would last three days and be held at the Day Report. Partnering with WVSOM and the Health Department, the Health Department will offer HIV, STD, and Hepatitis B testing, as well as vaccines for pneumonia and COVID-19, and provide blood pressure and sugar checks. Any participants would be allowed to attend and receive the services offered during the event at no cost (all results will be kept confidential). Most of the funding received for the event would be allocated to the Health Department to cover their expenses for the testing. An additional request was made to purchase 30-day bus passes from MTA as an incentive for some of their participants who utilize this form of transportation and continuously have negative drug screens, show up for groups/therapy sessions, etc. The third request was for a contract therapist, as their numbers continue to rise, they are currently serving an estimated 250 people, and they need the additional assistance. There would be no expense to the county, as all three of these requests will be written into the grant application. Up to $250,000 can be requested, and awards will be given at the end of December. Commissioner Tammy Tincher suggested that the grant application be completed, then the commissioners would review the final draft application before submission. However, since the due date for the application is soon, Tincher made a motion to approve the grant application pending final review by the council and the commission. This motion was approved.
Consideration of a resolution for the donation of office equipment and furniture to the Monroe County Commission was next on the agenda, for furniture and equipment that are in surplus after renovations. This consists of one table, three wall lockers, ten filing cabinets, three wall shelves, two plastic five-drawer organizers, six desks, six wooden chairs without arms, one ten-foot wooden bench pew, and a custom desk and service counter from the previous circuit clerk’s office. A motion was made to approve this resolution; the commissioners approved the said motion.
A proclamation was considered to recognize October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month; the commissioners signed this proclamation.
The Greenbrier County Investment Policy was considered for approval and implementation next. This was approved.
The separation of the employment of Jeff Schneider from the Greenbrier County Home Confinement Office, effective Sept. 22, 2025, was approved.
A motion was made to enter into executive session for the commissioners to discuss a property nuisance ordinance with legal counsel and to review homeowner assurances regarding the Fort Springs elevation project in West Virginia, a lingering FEMA project from 2016.
No motion was made for the homeowner’s assurances at this time after the executive session ended.
A public hearing will be held for the updated Comprehensive Plan on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 7 p.m.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday Oct. 14, at 10 a.m.
