By Adam Pack
The Greenbrier County Commission met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday Apr. 25 to discuss various items of county business.
The county began with the opening of bids for construction on the Health Department’s upcoming renovation and expansion. After a job showing two weeks ago where potential bidders were walked through the facility and briefed on plans by the county commission and the county’s architectural team, one company submitted a bid. Adam Whanger Contracting, LLC. of White Sulphur bid $2,710,360 for the project. As the only bidder, Whanger’s offer now goes to the county’s architect, who will determine if all forms have been submitted appropriately.
The commission then moved to the signing of the Victims of Crimes Act Grant for Fiscal Year 2023/24. Current Circuit Clerk and former Victims Advocate Jamie Baker was on hand to request signatures from the commission for the submission of the grant which would pay for an advocate to act on behalf of the interests of the victims of crimes for both the sheriff’s department and the office of the county prosecutor. The approval of the grant is a yearly occurrence, and this year once again the commission unanimously approved the VOCA Grant application.
Next on the docket was the signing of a grant application for courthouse security measures. The Court Security Grant is offered through the state’s Department of Justice and Community Services. For the Greenbrier County Courthouse, this year’s grant has been drafted to request new metal detectors at the main entrance and the new entrance to the addition that is currently under construction. The Commission first approved a resolution stating that the county does indeed have, “sufficient staff and resources to operate any requested security equipment and or items requested,” and then moved on to to signing the grant application form. These two measures constitute the first step of the process of being awarded a Court Security grant.
Lastly, the Commission was happy to have on the docket the signing of the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Humane Society/Greenbrier County Commission Agreement. The agreement, a partnership between the County Commission and the Greenbrier County Humane Society read, in part; “Whereas; the county has an interest in providing the safe and humane treatment of cats and dogs, as well as for the health and safety of county residents… the County and the Humane Society desire to enter into an agreement for Fiscal Year of July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024 to provide effective management practices and uses of resources in furtherance of both parties of interest.” The commission stated that this agreement would total $200,000 “with invoices for reimbursement to be submitted quarterly.” Being the typical agreement reached between the county and the society in the past on an annual basis, the agreement was passed unanimously.
The Greenbrier County Commission will meet again on Tuesday, May, 9, at 10 a.m. in the Greenbrier County Commission offices, in the basement of the courthouse. The public is encouraged to attend. Interested parties should call 304-647-6689 ahead, as times and dates are subject to change.
