On a gray and drizzly Tuesday morning, the Pendleton County Commission held its second regular meeting for the month of August. Roger Dahmer, commissioner, gave the customary invocation that, in part, thanked God “for the rains we are getting.”
The light agenda first addressed courthouse work. Karen Pitsenbarger, county administrator, replied that shrubbery was going in this week. While they hoped to complete the paving, weather could delay that until next week. Inside “there are a few details we have to straighten up” as work comes to a close on the complex.
Mike Alt, training officer for Pendleton County Emergency Rescue, shared that the letter had come informing of funds from the salary enhancement program for EMS coming soon. Since 2023, local governments have had to adjust over and over to changing conditions.
First, the West Virginia State Legislature passed the bill authorizing the fund in 2023, but funds from the program were withdrawn in 2025.
The Pendleton County Commission stepped in to backfill what the state would have provided for 2025, but could offer no guarantees of permanently being able to do that. In the fall of 2025, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey in Franklin, just prior to the Treasure Mountain Festival parade, gave assurances that the fund would be addressed in 2026. Again, the state legislature passed a funding plan, but not until now has word come on the arrival of funds.
While EMS agencies used the funds in different ways, PCER applied theirs to raise the stipends given to volunteers for calls made. This added incentive had a salutary effect on response times. Because Pendleton County has no hospital, often volunteer ambulance crews go out for six to eight hours or more on a single call.
As the meeting continued, the commission was informed that the sheriff’s commission doubled this year to $30,000. According to West Virginia State Code 11-A-1-17, “The Legislature finds that it has, since July 1, 1955, consistently and annually imposed upon the sheriffs, as treasurers in each county, new and additional duties by the enactment of new provisions and amendments to this code. The new and additional duties imposed upon the aforesaid sheriffs, as county treasurers, by these enactments are such that they would justify the increases in commission.”
The West Virginia State Legislature went on to state in the statute that those would increase after July 1, 2026. In counties where taxpayers pay on time 85 to about 90 percent of the time, the sheriff gets $20,000. From 90 to less than 95 percent, it rises to $25,000. When 95 percent or more of residents pay taxes on time, as Pendleton County has in 2025 and 2026 so far, the Sheriff receives $30,000.
Commission money comes out of taxes collected.
Carl Hevener, county commission president, took issue with the state legislature over the bill. He shared that he did not mean to disparage the Sheriff, but stated that “the legislature has no idea what county commissions have to deal with.” He went on to argue that they’re giving out money right and left and county government must contend with the consequences of that. He stated that “taxpayers should get the tax money back” and questioned what incentive the county had for taxpayers to pay on time.
Trish Sponaugle attended, representing Potomac Highlands Guild. She shared that she was looking for data on different aspects of drug issues in the area so that she could develop a plan to promote drug abuse prevention.
Pitsenbarger then read a letter of thanks from Energy Express, the nutrition and learning program operated by the Pendleton County WVU Extension Service at Franklin Elementary School earlier this summer. It stated in part “Thank you for being a community partner of Energy Express . . . we are truly grateful for the partnership and the difference you make in the lives of our children.”
At the conclusion of business, it was shared that the first meeting of the new planning commission will take place in September.
