By Stephen Smoot
On the morning after holding a public meeting concerning purchasing the former Franklin Elementary School, the Pendleton County Commission held its regular meeting.
Near the start of the meeting, Karen Pitsenbarger, Pendleton County administrator, reported that progress on the courthouse annex remained on track.
Commissioners also discussed the meeting the previous night. In that meeting, they heard citizens’ concerns about traffic access, the cost of the building, and other issues. In a meeting that lasted a little over an hour, they answered questions and shared ideas.
Roger Dahmer, commissioner, after discussion, made the motion that the county purchase the former FES for $485,000.
Mike Alt, training officer for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, reported the continuing decline in volunteers for volunteer emergency services in Pendleton County. He shared that the Seneca Rocks squad exited service as of Aug. 18 and that the vehicle would be sold.
Pendleton County is slated to receive $90,909.09 from the EMS Equipment Fund. Those monies originally came from the Office of Emergency Medical Services. Commissioners voted to use those funds to purchase a new ambulance.
In a past meeting, officials from Hardy County had shared their plan to bring a dialysis center back to Moorefield. The previous center located there moved to Keyser and placed hardship on Pendleton County-based patients who needed their services. Dahmer reported that the project is still pending.
Commissioners also approved a change in the minutes from the previous meeting. They had read that long-time 911 telecommunicator, Chuck King, had resigned from his dispatcher post. Revised minutes reflect that he actually retired from the position.
