By Peggy Mackenzie
Although the county courthouse was closed all day on Tuesday, the Greenbrier County Commission held their usual meeting that evening.
Addressing the recent diesel spill accident, commissioner Lowell Rose stated he had been in contact with Kirk Woodford, the owner of Woodford Oil Company, who expressed his regrets for the accident which occurred late Friday night when his company’s fuel truck slid on black ice on a bridge on Rt. 92, unhitching the trailer, and spilling almost 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel into a subsidiary of Anthony Creek. Woodford, who resides in Elkins, said he did his best to mitigate the spill as quickly as possible.
It was fortunate that Lewisburg and Alderson city water managers downstream on the Greenbrier River were able to successfully close their water intake points in time. Twelve thousand people were left without water for the better part of the week.
Rose added that the driver was not injured in the accident.
Commission president Mike McClung commended all the agencies involved in the handling of water dispensing to the public and the clean up of Anthony Creek. “This speaks well of our community as a whole,” he said.
The county courthouse was reopened on Wednesday to conduct business as usual, with the exception that the water fountains will temporarily not be available for use. Restrooms will be accessible.
In other business:
• Business during the meeting was brief and consisted mainly of approvals of community participation pass-through grants for the Greenbrier Historical Society. New signs for the North House and Barracks buildings received a grant for $7,000, and the Blue Sulphur Spring Pavilion received a grant for $10,000, and another for $6,500.
• The Greenbrier Housing Authority requested approval to appoint a replacement to their board following a resignation. Commissioner Woody Hanna said Banks Jesser was recommended for the position and was unanimously approved by the commission.
• The commissioners also approved hiring a part-time employee, Laura Harvey, for the Circuit Clerk’s Office.
• The commission went into executive session to discuss a pending litigation case involving former county building inspector Tony Hinkle, accompanied by their attorney, Wendy Greve, a member of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe, PLLC of Charleston. Commission president Mike McClung stated for the press that no decision was made during the 20-minute session.
• The next county commission meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of the month, on Feb. 10, at 10 a.m.