LEWISBURG (WVDN) – At the first meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission in 2023, there were annual duties to be discussed including the appointment of County Commission president. Newly elected commissioner Blaine Phillips was seated and welcomed to the Commission as Lowell Rose stated, “In my 15th year serving as a Commissioner of Greenbrier County, I am proud to welcome the seventh commissioner partner, Blaine Phillips.”
Rose went on to compliment Commissioner Tammy Tincher for her “passion” as a county commissioner and stated that her interest at both the state and national levels of county commissioner activities makes her the ideal candidate for president of the Commission.
Her nomination was passed, and Tincher accepted, saying, “There is a lot going on, and the county is in a very good position,” pointing to the courthouse expansion and the broadband connection programs as current activities that bode well for the future.
Tincher then took the meeting on as the acting Commission leader. Committee assignments for the year were named for each member. One commissioner may participate as a voting member on some committees, although all of the commissioners may attend any committee meeting. Phillips was first selected to serve on the Greenbrier County Planning Commission, Region One Work Force and the emergency planning committee.
The commission also discussed the board of equalization, which consists of the three County Commission members and meets each year to mediate property assessment appeals. Most issues of disagreement between property owners and the assessor’s office will reach an understanding without need for appeal to the board of equalization, but those that do require further consideration will be scheduled.
The dates chosen for the reviews will be on the following calendar: Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m., Feb 6 at 6 p.m., Feb. 9 at 10:30 a.m., following the 10 a.m. County Commission meeting, Feb. 14 at 9:30 a.m. and Feb 17 at 9:30 a.m. If there are more cases, a review on Feb. 25 may be added to the schedule.
In other calendar business, County Commission meeting dates are scheduled, as usual, for the second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m., except for the next two meetings, which are scheduled for Jan. 18 and Feb. 2. The change of dates for these meetings are because of conflicting attendance of the Commission members to state and national annual programs.
County offices hours for 2023 will continue as 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
After dispensing with the calendar, the Commission considered other business.
- The opening of bids by the Commission for a generator that will provide ample power for the entire new courthouse complex revealed three bidders with amounts ranging from $475,479.02 to $579,900.00. The project engineers will review the bids to make sure they comply with all the requirements that were listed in the call for bids. Once the review determines all specifications are contained within, the lowest of the bids will be chosen.
- Sheriff Bruce Sloan presented a nomination of Mike Honaker for a new hire for replacement security officer at the courthouse. Honaker has been working at The Greenbrier in security. This is a different Mike Honaker than the one who is currently the county office of emergency services director. The new hire was accepted by the County Commission.
- An appeals board to the county building code was formed and, for the start, will consist of the three county commissioners.
- County attorney Britt Ludwig then suggested the board go into executive session to discuss the Dilapidated Building Ordinance repeal. After 30 minutes, they returned to the public forum and voted to repeal the ordinance. Tincher stated, “This ordinance has been in place for several years and has never been used.”
- A county purchasing policy was adopted at Ludwig’s recommendation. According to the new policy, all county departments making purchases of over $2,500 that contain any “contractual terms” will automatically have included a prescribed addendum that will indemnify (protect) the county from liability.
- The Commission approved a grant agreement for GIG Ready Grant through the West Virginia Department of Economic Development Office of Broadband for close to $13 million pending review by the legal consultant.
