The Doddridge County Commission called their September 7th Regular Meeting to order at 9:01am after holding Prayer and reciting the Pledge.
They approved the minutes to the past meeting.
There were no Public Comments made.
The spotlight to their “Addition to their Regular Agenda” was “Consideration of Old High School”
Clinton Means opened the discussion by asking Lowell Bee, the property owner if he was willing to donate the land and include the mineral interest to this property to which Mr. Bee agreed.
President Glaspell asked if the deal could include the 1st right of refusal to the adjoining property where the Annex is located, to which Mr. Bee agreed with the stipulation that the cost would be fair market value at the time.
Commissioner Travis questioned the cost of the removal of the building noting the Commission could never recuperate this cost.
President Glaspell noted there were builders interested in the property to build town houses and the property would be sold to them, which would allow the County to make some of the money back and also the taxes on the new homes would also recuperate some of the money expended for clean up.
A discussion was also held concerning the possibility of asbestos in the building. Glaspell noted the asbestos report stated that some of the floor tile contained the asbestos but the roof, which was considered to contain a great amount of asbestos was found to be asbestos free.
Travis asked if any of the neighbors had been contacted concerning this change. Glaspell responded that nobody in the neighborhood had been spoken to about the development but he thought that upgrading the area would be a plus for them.
Other discussion took place, ending with Means making the motion to accept the donation of the old DCHS with unanimous yes vote.
Other Commission business that was taken care of in this meeting: The Commissioners approved to table the opening of the WUGS Gym for the time being due to COVID concerns.
Three applications requesting consolidation of lands were presented to the Commission. All three were approved unanimously.
George Eidel requested permission, which was given to, begin the lease work on the new West Union tower.
He went on with the Floodplain Report – no new applications and as OEMS Director reported activities for the month of August: Emergency Run Report, Fair, PPE delivery on the 26th, 26 through 28th State Wide Exercise, and 31st preparation for the Hurricane that passed east of us.
Neal Romain, DCAA, reported the DCAA has $391,245.62 in their account and for the month of August the income was $44,680.60. He noted the ambulances were up and running but still were not inspected.
Sheriff Boring requested to go into executive session at (21, to discuss personnel and personnel policies. The Commission approved his request. At 9:42, the Commission voted to come out of executive session and stated that no action had been taken.
The Commissioners considered the COVID policies for the Courthouse. Much discussion was held by the employees and elected officials in attendance concerning the required masking of employees, quarantining of employees, and other general concern surrounding their COVID policy.
The Commissioners by consensus decided the public coming in the Courthouse would be required to wear masks inside of the Courthouse, that the employees would be paid for COVID days and they would take the issue up again at their next meeting.
One State Budget Revision was presented and approved to move $6,000 from the County Commission’s Account and place it in the Account for the New Web Page.
There were six exonerations approved along with the Probate Orders.