By Dakota Baker
During the latest Greenbrier County Commission meeting, two presentations were made: one from the Greenbrier Humane Society and another from the Greenbrier Valley Off-Road Biking Association (GVORBA). Jennifer Runyon represented the Greenbrier Humane Society as the Volunteer Board President. Runyon reviewed the 2024 statistics for the shelter, stating that 623 dogs and 668 cats were surrendered to the facility in Greenbrier County last year (including both owner and stray surrenders; however, the majority were owner surrenders). The total number of animals in GHS’s care for 2024 was 1,408. 745 were adopted, 416 were adopted through rescue partnerships, and 80 dogs and two cats were returned to their owners. Despite the facility’s efforts to keep these animals’ average length of stay below 30 days, they have struggled to achieve that goal in 2024. From 2009 to 2024, 27,534 dogs and cats have been surrendered to GHS. Their main goal is to rescue as many animals as possible through adoptions or rescue programs, and 12,996 dogs and cats were adopted or sent to rescue between 2009 and 2024. Things have improved positively for GHS in the last 11 years, and they have celebrated anniversaries for not euthanizing animals due to space constraints. Unfortunately, there are still instances when an animal must be euthanized. In 2024, 42 cats and 23 dogs were euthanized due to severe cases of aggression or illness.
GHS also continues to operate under the veterinary license of Dr. Pat McHale. Runyon also noted that she likes to reiterate that GHS always aims to put itself out of business. By offering a spay and neuter program they have a goal to reduce the number of unwanted animals in this county, ultimately decreasing the number of surrenders received. Between 2009 and 2024, the spay and neuter program was utilized on 21,240 dogs and cats. In 2024 alone, 1,276 surgeries were performed at reduced or no cost to the animal owner (courtesy of a highly generous donor, no county money is used for the spay and neuter programs). GHS continues working with the community, law enforcement, and food pantries to help people and animals in need. Additionally, GHS began a new program called the Responsible Pet Rehoming program in 2024. The program allows individuals to utilize GHS’s social media to rehome a pet they may no longer be able to care for without that animal having to enter the GHS facility. In 2023, GHS also reimplemented its foster-to-adopt program for any animals needing special care to be taken care of in a home setting. In 2023, the doggie day out program also began, allowing the approved dogs out of the facility for the day, positively impacting the dogs and the people while also promoting the dogs on social media.
Although 2024 was an excellent year for GHS, it was not without challenges. Like any animal facility across the country, GHS faces the challenge of overpopulation. It is difficult to keep up with all the animals coming into the facility, and GHS continues to seek innovative ways to promote the animals. For example, appointment-only intakes allow them to know which animals are arriving on specific days, enabling them to ensure they have the appropriate animal care staff and minimize surprises. As GHS moves into 2025, it plans to continue its programs, such as ongoing education and responsible pet ownership. The ultimate goal is to keep pets in home environments and out of shelters. The commission showed gratitude to GHS for its ongoing efforts, as well as all the volunteers.
The Greenbrier Valley Off-Road Biking Association (GVORBA) also presented to the Commission. Two board members, Josh Edwards and Ben Eisenberg, represented GVORBA during this presentation. They are a non-profit organization affiliated with the International Mountain Biking Association, and its purpose is to get adults, kids, and community members on bikes. GVORBA is currently in the process of trying to expand the opportunities available for biking in the Greenbrier Valley, as we have some of the best terrain available for mountain biking. They aim to capitalize on this terrain and provide biking trails suitable for all levels, bringing visitors to Greenbrier Valley to ride our trails, eat at our restaurants, and shop at our businesses.
Additionally, these trails will not only be for biking but also hiking, walking, and family outings, and they will be all-around community-friendly. GVORBA has secured $2.6 million in funding to develop a new bike park in White Sulphur Springs. They have also worked with the International Mountain Biking Association and the Greenbrier State Forrest to design 20-plus new miles of trail, as the current trails we have now lack various difficulty levels. GVORBA plans to host some community rides this spring to increase community engagement and encourages the community to be on the lookout for those.
Just as exciting, GVORBA is working with White Sulphur to try and get new lights for the ball fields in Hope Village, as that is also where the bike park will be; GVORBA would also like to try and connect the bike park to downtown to make it easily accessible. GVORBA is interested in these projects because they love bikes and the Greenbrier Valley and want to see us grow economically and recreationally.
In other news, regular Commission business included no arts and recreation transfers at this meeting. On the agenda were eight items to be considered. The first was the consideration of a resolution urging Greenbrier County lawmakers to support the Certificate of Need in West Virginia. Becky Harless, CEO of CAMC GVMC, spoke on this matter strongly, urging lawmakers to oppose any attempt to repeal West Virginia’s Certificate of Need program as it would have detrimental effects on the access to healthcare in our rural community. A motion was made for the Greenbrier County Commission to write a letter to regional lawmakers in support of the Certificate of Need.
Commissioners also considered closing out the documents for the Greenbrier County Quinwood Broadband Project, as the project became obsolete before it even came to the point of being billed and did not make it past the project design. Funds remaining from this project will be given back to the state. The commission will move forward with the closeout documents.
Next on the agenda was the consideration of payment of Resolution # 9 for the Greenbrier County PSD #2 – Phase 2 Waterline extension project, invoices for The Thrasher Group. The amount was $160,084.90, and the commission approved this payment. The commission then considered the payment for Draw Request #7 for the Greenbrier County GigReady Broadband Project. The total amount for the project is $134,976.91. However, the Greenbrier County Commission is only obligated to pay 25 percent; $33,744.23 would be the commission’s portion, with the rest will be paid by the GigReady Project. The motion to consider this payment was approved.
The commission considered two separations of employment: Shelly Ott (effective Feb. 12) from the Greenbrier County Sherriff’s Tax Office and Timothy Wilson (effective Feb. 20) from the Greenbrier County 911 Office. The commission approved both separations of employment.
The last item on the agenda was the consideration of a Professional Service Agreement for three + one for cash Vest Liquidity and Treasury Analysis. They would assess the commission’s accounts and provide information on the best ways for the commission to maximize the available funds. Commissioners also considered a Remediation Reimbursement Agreement for the Cost of Demolition of Commercial Property located at 11525 Midland Trail, Crawley (the old Exxon station). Exxon would like the commission to go ahead and perform the demolition, and Exxon will reimburse the commission for the full amount. A motion was made to approve both considerations.
