The Braxton County Commission held their most recent meeting on Friday, April 21. One of the first to address the Commission was John Hoffman, OES/9-1-1 Director, who made a request before the body to increase landline 9-1-1 Center fees from $2.10 to $3.10. He stated the rate has been the same since 2002 and the costs of running the center are going up. A motion by Larry Clifton gave permission for Hoffman to move forward with filing the proper documents and setting up the public hearings.
Hoffman also spoke with the commission requesting the approval of the Emergency Action Plan developed in part by the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding flooding emergencies in Braxton. Action by Larry Clifton led to the approval of the plan which is only the second one in the state and was developed at no cost to the county.
First to speak to commissioners was Marie Lockard with the Braxton County Testing Center. She presented her agency’s monthly activity report for March. The center completed 186 DHHR screens, nine for the center, and 16 for home confinement for a total of 211 screens. She noted that all billing with the DHHR is up-to-date and they were invoiced $8,020 for the month of March. They received three checks from DHHR for a total of $8,061. The report was approved on a motion by Larry Clifton.
Next to speak to the commission was Andrew Smith from the CVB with his yearly report. He reviewed the budgets for 2022 and 2023 with commissioners as well as advertising expenses, the marketing plan and the CVB accomplishments and goals.
Jim Marshall from Region VII Planning and Development Council presented the commissioners with documents for the FCRPSD Phase III Water Extension Project for Exchange Road. On action by Larry Clifton, the commission approved the evidentiary materials, administrative agreement, and agreement for administrative services moving the $1,992,000 Community Development Block Grant project forward.
Clifton also moved to approve the short form settlements for Dianna K. Chapman, deceased, Charles Robert Given, deceased, and Alan R. Weese, deceased as well as the correction of erroneous assessments for Sharon Loving and David Prince, divorced and John Robert Berry, wrong value on Ram.
Melvin Gum made the motion to approve purchase order #782 to Dell Technologies for seven rugged laptops and two Latitude 3530 for the BCSD. The purchase was previously approved by commissioners. This approval was for the actual purchase order.
A second purchase order, #783 to Rexroad Supply for building materials for the courthouse awning in the amount of $595.95 was approved on action by Larry Clifton.
He also provided the motion to hire Leslie Ann White as a full time Deputy County Clerk to fill the vacant position in the office. Her salary will be $22,000 per year with full county benefits. She will start on May 1 and will serve a 90 day probationary period.
The following items were also approved by the commission on separate motions: use of p-card for Sue Rutherford and one deputy for room reservation and registration fees for State Auditor’s required annual in-service training June 6-9 (rooms $116 per night and registration fees of $275 per person); resolution authorizing President Lisa Godwin to enter into a contractual agreement with WV Division of Administrative Services/Justice & Community Services, Court Security Fund Grant Program, to receive and administer funds for contract; approval of MANPOWER resolution; internal budget revisions for BCSD and process server; resolution and supporting documents for Country Roads Leasing, LLC for the purchase of two cruisers; open an account for opioid funds; use of p-card for room reservations and seminar fees for President Godwin and Heather Hardway for Grant Writing USA training in Wheeling April 27-28 (rooms $153 per night and seminar fees $465 per person, includes $30 discount per person); resignation of Herb Floyd from the Holly Gray Park Board; advertisement for BCRDA Board Member; advertisement for vehicle for animal shelter up to $30,000; invoices for county, p-cards invoices and EMS; and minutes of the April 7 regular meeting and April 18 mandatory meeting.
Once their business was completed, the meeting was adjourned at 9:38 am.