By Chelsea Blair
Tuesday’s Greenbrier County Commission meeting began with discussing $21,857.50 in Arts and Recreation transfers with $1,909.68 being for Davis Stuart’s 2023-2024 fiscal year grant for the Scott Hollow Recreation Center, $13,576.21 to Greenbrier Girls Softball 2023-2024 fiscal year grant for field dressings, and $6,371.61 for the Town of Rainelle 2023-2024 fiscal year City Park grant.
The next item on the agenda was consideration to approve agreement for Records Management and Preservation Board 2024-2025 grant award. This application was approved in October and submitted by the County Clerk’s office to the Department of Arts, Culture and History in the amount of $15,000 to purchase shelving for county record books. The application was approved and brought before the Commission where the motion was approved unanimously.
Next, Commissioners discussed the submission of a grant for $5,000 to be utilized for DUI patrols throughout the county. The grant is submitted every year and Commission President Tammy Shifflett-Tincher says she hopes it will continue.
Consideration and approval of a resolution to allow eligible 911 dispatchers employed by the Greenbrier County Commission to join the Emergency Medical Services Retirement System (EMSRS) was the next item on the agenda. EMSRS is an enhanced retirement program of the WV Consolidation retirement board. Currently, employees take part in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) and have tier 1 retirement if hired before July 1, 2015, and tier 2 retirement if hired after that date. Tincher stated the resolution was presented around a year ago, but the county had concerns and questions. Commissioners wanted to make sure employees understand their options and what the program consisted off. The resolution needs to be approved by the end of the month and would allow the opportunity for eligible 911 employees to join the system. The exact costs are uncertain, but Tincher stated employee contribution will increase from 4.5 percent with PERS to 9.5 percent with EMSRS. In July, 911 employees across the state will vote as to whether they want to join the system. There must be a 75 percent passing vote to implement the program. Commissioner Nick Dailey added that all employees should ask lots of questions and that this resolution is to simply approve the application to have information given to employees and allow them to vote on the system. Commissioner Lowell Rose then motioned for approval, and it was approved unanimously.
The commissioners moved on to approve a new hire to fill the vacancy of a 911 dispatcher presented by Carla Blankenship, 911 Director. She spoke highly of the applicant, Zachery Webb, and believed he would be a great fit for the position. Blankenship also added there is one more dispatcher position to fill but she foresees the center being at satisfactory for now, since Webb has joined.
The next motion was to confirm the separation of employment for Jeanette Newman from the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Tax office as she will be relocating from Greenbrier County. Newman was hired on Oct. 21, 2021, and the separation will be effective June 8. The Sheriff presented a new hire to fill the vacancy, Susan Morrison. He added that Morrison had a good background and was well qualified based on her educational background. Commissioners approved the separation and new hire to fill the vacancy.
Greenbrier County’s Prosecutor brought forth the confirmation of separation of employment of Alison Burke, from the Prosecutor’s office, effective May 31. Burke was hired on Dec. 5, 2023, and is now moving on to the WV State Police Office. He also presented the consideration of a new hire to fill the vacancy in the Prosecutor’s office and stated he is confident in hiring Meredith Whited, as she has held positions with other county offices and has a good background. The separation of employment and new hire to fill the position were approved.
The commissioners moved on to other business including the consideration of approval of the Greenbrier County Humane Society contractual agreement for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. This agreement covers the Humane Society acting as an independent contractor for the sheltering and care of cats and dogs in Greenbrier County. $225,000 was requested and they are currently receiving quarterly payments of the amount of application each year. Ultimately the Humane Society meets the requirements for shelter and care of the animals and works very closely with the Greenbrier County Animal Control office, and the motion was approved unanimously.
Next, Tincher read over the two bids submitted for the Meadow River Trail presented by Matt Ford, Project Director. The bids are for mowing phase one of approximately 9 miles in Greenbrier and Fayette County. Mowing will occur four times for the 2024 season. The first bid reviewed was from Willis Weedwhacker for $8,000 each time with a total of $32,000 for four times; and Ike’s Blades of Glory for $7,000 each time with a total of $28,000 for four times. The total of each would be divided between both counties. Rose motioned to accept the low bid by Ike’s Blades of Glory, the motioned was approved.
Submittal of a Transportation Alternative Program grant request to WVDOH was the next discussion on the agenda. The grant request is from the Meadow River Rail Trail in the amount of $100,000 to expand the Russellville Trailhead. TAP grants were previously received through the DOH for design and work on the trail. Three lots, including one owned by the Greenbrier County Commission, between the Meadow River Trail and Meadow River in Russellville have already been opened. The grant will allow for expansion of the parking area and other amenities along the trail. The commissioners approved the request, which is simply to submit the grant application.
Another item on the agenda was consideration and approval of distribution of Fire Funds to Fire Departments serving Greenbrier County. These funds were approved by the legislature and effective August 8, 2023. Tincher added these funds are not county money and the county is just the pass-through to distribute funds to each department and approve the release of these funds. $54,814.90 was split evenly over 15 departments in the county and decided on by fire departments and the first responder committee. Payment in the amount of $3,654.32 is distributed to each department. Distribution of funds to Emergency Medical Service agencies in the county were also presented and were effective June 9, 2023. Approval for the funds is based on all 911 calls collected within the three agencies and are also already approved through the legislature and just distributed by the county commission. White Sulphur Springs EMS will receive $62,916.26, Greenbrier County EMS will receive $52,367.44 and Alderson EMS will receive $10,297.68 from a total of 7,089 911 calls for the year, divided into the three agencies.
Two grant requests to Homeland Security were also added to the agenda and approved. The first was the application and resolutions submitted by the Greenbrier County office of Emergency Management for Homeland Security Grant program 2024 for mobile command support. Paula Brown informed the commission that they have had the mobile command support system for a couple of decades, and it has not been updated since 2016, therefore computer monitors, and electrical equipment needs to be addressed. When employed, it is used as an emergency operation center for any activities, events, or disasters in the region. A grant application for $213,095 will be submitted to the Homeland Security for consideration. All the information was presented to the commissioners and approved. The other was a grant request of $13,000 to be submitted to Homeland Security for drone equipment and training for individuals within the agency. $11,000 of the grant is just for the drone. The drone will help within the agency and assist the mapping office for 911 mapping and work related to that.
Also presented to the commission by the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Tax office in this meeting was the delinquent tax list to be approved by the commission to be certified and sent by the County Clerk to the State Auditor’s office. These real property taxes have been delinquent as of May 1, 2021, and reminders have been sent to individuals by the tax office.
Before the meeting was adjourned, Tincher added thanks to everyone who participated in the election. “Thanks to everyone who participated in our election. Thanks to the Clerk’s office and all our poll workers. We did our canvas yesterday and it was completed successfully and as soon as we get the direction from the Secretary of State’s office we will do the final certification. I think for the most part it was a successful election. We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through our new systems.”
