By Dakota Baker
The Greenbrier County Commission held its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 11. During the meeting, the minutes from the previous session were approved.
Financial approvals were also addressed, including several transfers from savings to checking accounts for arts and recreation purposes. The approved transfers were as follows: $1,161.17 for the 24-25 Alderson first quarter library reimbursement; $4,258.31 for consulting partial AML reimbursement with the Meadow River Trail project; $1,675 for the 2024-2025 Greenbrier Valley Chorale programming concert series. In total, $7,094.48 was transferred from savings to checking to support these initiatives.
Several new business items were also presented for consideration, including a request for payment in the amount of $179,707.05 for the Rt. 60 East Sewer Project. This also included Invoice #10 from E.L. Robinson, covering their construction administration and project inspection to date, totaling $13,569.41. The total payment, including all invoices, amounted to $193,276.46, which was requested to be funded by the TIF allocation. The payment was approved.
Following the bid opening for the White Sulphur Springs TIF Project – Disinfection System Improvements, the total project cost came in at $609,102, slightly under the initial estimate of $627,500. Engineering staff will formally submit their recommendation to the City for approval, and the Commission was asked to approve the award contingent on the City’s acceptance. The Commission approved this contingent award.
A waiver request was presented for the Greenbrier County GigReady Broadband Project. The waiver proposed that the state would cover 75 percent of the invoiced expenses, with the remaining 25 percent to be funded by the Greenbrier County Commission. The proposal for the prorated allocation of matching funds and grant funds was approved.
The Greenbrier County Day Report requested approval to apply for a Community Corrections Grant from the Division of Justice in the amount of $263,000. This operational grant is one that the Day Report has applied for and received annually. The Commission approved the submission of this grant.
In addition to the Community Corrections Grant, the Greenbrier County Day Report requested approval to apply for the JRI Grant from the Division of Justice in the amount of $94,000. This is another operational grant that the Day Report typically applies for. The Commission also approved this grant submission.
The Commission considered an application for the Department of Interior Federal Grant to provide slip-on tanker units for five local fire departments. The grant does not require matching funds. While the application is still in progress, the Commission approved moving forward with the application, pending final review once completed.
The Greenbrier County 911 Advisory Board was reinstated, and the Commission considered appointments to the board. The reinstatement of the board was approved.
The Commission confirmed the separation of employment for Bethany Burdette from the Greenbrier County Prosecutor’s Office, effective Jan. 24, 2025. Bethany had been employed with the office since 2016. The separation was approved. The Commission also confirmed the retirement of Scott Sheppard from the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Department, effective Jan. 27, 2025. Scott had been employed with the department since 2005. The retirement was approved.
The Commission discussed the distribution of fire and EMS funds received from the state of West Virginia. The funds were to be equally divided among the 18 departments, resulting in a payout of $3,027.10 per department. The distribution was approved.
The Commission considered an amended 911 Ordinance for publication which will reflect updates to communication systems within the 911 center, with an increase in funding to offset some of the modernization costs. This is the first update to the ordinance since 1995. The publication of the amended ordinance was approved, and the next steps include advertising and public meetings.
The next Greenbrier County Commission meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 26, at 10 a.m.
