The first scheduled monthly meeting of the 2023-24 year was held by the Greenbrier County Commission in their new meeting room at a new desk and dias. The area includes five seats now, adding the County Clerk Robin Loudermilk and Commission assistant Kelly Banton. The area is a solid panel facing the room.
The commissioner meeting is now located in the new addition to the Court House in a commission suite, and they are waiting for the Clerk’s office to join them soon. Following that move, the other offices of the Sheriff can begin their relocation.
After regular business concluded, the commission addressed the following items: a new hire for the Assessor’s office was approved, and Crystal Leeann Callison will fill the vacancy.
Two board appointments were made. Currently serving and interested in continuing is Greg Furlong on the Airport Board and Kim Estep on the Board of Health. Both volunteer positions will be theirs for a five-year term.
A TIF project for White Sulphur Springs was approved to have E.L. Robinson conduct a study to determine the feasibility of a water backup project tying the cities of Lewisburg and White Sulphur Springs.
Commissioner Lowell Rose said, “Many people agree that this makes sense to have a redundancy and possible backup of water source between the two systems.” The project, paying $25,000 to E.L. Robinson for the study, was approved.
Commissioner Blaine Philips said, “The closeness of the two communities makes this possible, standing alone is a vulnerable position.” He referenced a situation several years ago when a tanker truck spilled into the river and compromised the Lewisburg water uptake.
The Meadow River Trail project manager Matt Ford presented two change orders as the project reaches completion, Sept. 1 is now the goal.
Lynch Construction change order of $129,017.65 involves insulation of a bridge wing wall and various repairs as well as limiting access to the trail of unauthorized ATVs.
Court Street Construction’s change order of $17.108.25 is primarily for drainage damage repairs following weather-related water overflow. FEMA approval will be sought and is expected without any difficulty since these repairs were needed for erosion damage during the project.
County Clerk Robin Loudermilk presented to the commission the Fund 61 & 62, county clerk bank accounts which have funds provided by the state for county clerk needs of equipment and election administration. Two bank accounts that are interest-earning were approved by the commission for these funds.
The election and release forms on the opioid settlement with Kroger were also approved for signing by the commission.
Commission President Tammy Tincher stated, “We are still going through the process, no opioid settlement funds have been released yet to the county, hopefully they will be in the coming months.”
