By Adam Pack
The Greenbrier County Commission met for their regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, Oct. 25 to hear the status of the work remaining to be done to the Meadow River Trail. Roger Kennedy of Chapman Technical Group was on hand to request additional engineering time, and thus funds, associated with FEMA repairs on the trail.
Kennedy stated that his company “recognized possible overruns” in engineering and construction of the trail as far back as June, and said that “[Chapman] is still trying to close out the project.” Kennedy relayed that the “Document of Substantial Completion” approved by the Commission in their last meeting on Oct. 11, was “[Chapman’s] attempt to nudge the contractor along” who still have “just some punch list items, but that nonetheless have to be completed,” and will take extra time than originally planned. However, that DSC has been sent to Court Street Construction with no response as of meeting time. Chapman has notified Court Street Construction that they will be sending the DSC to Court Street’s bonding company, in the hopes that it will “coax them along,” according to Kennedy. Any extra funds associated with the additional engineering time will be funded by FEMA funds, and the commission approved Kennedy’s request.
The Commission also heard from Greenbrier County Sheriff Bruce Sloan on the possible acquisition and deployment of body cameras for “all uniformed officers of the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department.” Sloan quoted an estimate he received from Axon Inc., the same company who already provides tasers to the Sheriff’s Department. “That estimate came back at $352,877.40,” he reported. The Commissioners briefly said that they felt that this was a positive development for the Sheriff’s Department and law enforcement in the county, and approved the next steps necessary for the purchase of body cameras. Though the contract must still be reviewed by the Sheriff and legal counsel for the county, Sheriff Sloan said officers could be equipped with body cameras “in a couple of months.”
The Commission also heard from Ruthana Beezley, Executive Director of the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation. She was on hand to formally request that the Commission designate the GVEDC as the “lead economic development organization.” This would make the receipt of grants possible from the West Virginia Department of Economic Development, who stipulate that an EDC must be designated as a county or region’s “lead economic development organization to receive funds.”
The Commission approved the motion to designate the GVEDC as such, and Commissioner Lowell Rose was full of praise for the organization. “I serve on the [EDC] board, and they have been very active as of late, and I would say that all three counties they represent and serve are really pleased with the work they do, and especially the work that Ruthana does day in and day out.”
The Greenbrier County Commission will meet again for their next regular meeting on Monday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. in the offices of the County Commission. The public is encouraged to attend.
