By Dakota Baker
During the first Greenbrier County Commission meeting of 2026, Commissioner Lowell Rose was appointed as president for the New Year. Regular meetings will be held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, with the following exceptions:
May: 11th and 26th
September: 8th and 29th
November: 10th and 30th
December: 8th and 29th
A motion to approve these meeting dates was made by Commissioner Richie Holiday and then approved unanimously.
The next order of business was financial matters, and an arts and recreation transfer from savings to checking was approved to cover outstanding invoices. This includes a payment to the Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center in the amount of $11,672.75 for 2025-2026 events and accessibility expenses.
During the new business portion, the Commission authorized the payment of Draw Request #16 for the PSD #2 waterline projects, as approved in Resolution 19. Region 4 Project Specialist Amanda Smarr joined the meeting via Zoom to outline the distribution of payments. She explained that the first payment would go to Chojnacki Construction, receiving a total of $97,563.52. Of that amount, $51,855.19 will be funded through the West Virginia Drinking Water Treatment Revolving Fund loan, while $24,734.01 will come from the DWTRF principal forgiveness program. Smarr also noted that the next invoice from Chojnacki will be fully covered by principal forgiveness funds in the amount of $115,869.42. Additionally, RDR Utility Services Group will submit an invoice for Contract #4, totaling $175,938.24, which will be paid entirely from the Economic Enhancement Grant Fund (EEGF).
Continuing with financial approvals, another invoice discussed during the meeting was from Tribute Contracting & Consultants for Contract #5. That payment, totaling $299,202.85, will also be funded through EEGF. Smarr added that The Thrasher Group will receive $64,599.50, which will be paid from commission funds. Altogether, Draw Request # 16 totals $753,173.56, with $64,599.50 coming directly from the commission.
The Commission then considered Payment Resolutions #3 and 5 related to the Ridges Project and the Maple Dale Water Storage Tank Project. E.L. Robinson Engineering will be paid $7,500 for each project, totaling $15,000. The payments will be made using available Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funds. Both of these resolutions were approved.
Commissioners also approved an unpaid legislative leave of absence for State Sen. Vince Deeds from the Greenbrier County Prosecutor’s Office.
Following that action, the commission voted to reject the sole bid submitted for the FEMA-funded Fort Springs elevation project, citing that the bid exceeded the amount approved by FEMA. As a result, commissioners also withdrew their earlier commitment to front county funds for the project ahead of FEMA reimbursement.
Moving forward, the Greenbrier County Commission stated it will no longer participate in FEMA projects that require county funds to be advanced prior to reimbursement.
The next regular meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission is set for Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 10 a.m.
