By Stephen Smoot
The Pendleton County Commission held its initial meeting for the month of June last week.
After Roger Dahmer, county commissioner, gave the invocation, Carl Hevener called the meeting to order.
Two separate organizations expressed appreciation to the commission for support given. First, Darren Taylor, South Branch Day Report Center director, thanked commissioners for assisting them. The Pendleton County Commission agreed to use opioid fund monies to help defer the cost of rent at their Franklin office.
Day Report often provides testing and treatment for clients who have committed crimes related to their addiction. They may receive assessments on foundational life skills, such as parenting, while also getting counseling and therapy to overcome issues and barriers to recovery.
More than 140 clients in Pendleton, Hampshire, and Hardy counties currently receive services from Day Report.
Mike Alt and Tina Eye also came to thank commissioners for supporting county fire and ambulance services. A nearby facility in Virginia, as well as multiple fire departments and EMS crew across the state, have disbanded in recent months. Alt proposed that the commission and emergency services conduct a work session to discuss more funding solutions for county services.
Also related to emergency services, commissioners heard a request from Karen Pitsenbarger, Pendleton County administrator, on behalf of Rick Gillespie, Pendleton County Emergency Services coordinator. He wished to get approval for 911 employees to transfer from the Public Employees’ Retirement System to the Emergency Management Services Retirement System, should that move be approved statewide. Commissioners approved the request.
In other county business, Diana Mitchell from Pendleton 911 came to request a street name change. Commissioners approved the change of Walkins Wayside Lane in Sugar Grove to Niday Lane. Discussion on the issue continued, however. It centered on the idea that if a road name is assigned, that an accessible road for emergency vehicles also must be made. Recently a cabin burned on a remote road that lacked proper access for fire apparatus.
April Mallow, Pendleton County prosecuting attorney, shared that she is accepting applications for a secretary to serve in her office.
Pitsenbarger reported that progress on the new courthouse annex cannot continue until Region 8 provides a financial feasibility report.
On motion from Hevener, the commission unanimously certified the results of last month’s primary election in Pendleton County.
