GREENBRIER COUNTY W.Va. (WVDN) – The Greenbrier County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The meeting opened with the prelude and pledge and went on to hold a public hearing to seek permission on the demolition of dilapidated properties throughout Greenbrier County.
These petitions are being sought for the involuntary demolition of properties where contact couldn’t be made with the current owners to obtain a signed right of demolition. According to county attorney Britt Ludwig, the building code official for Greenbrier County, Stephen Simmons, has filed several petitions with the County for the demolition of certain properties. Within the last 90 days, a previous petition to demolish had been issued with no response from the current owners.
Ludwig said the properties have been named a public safety hazard.
First up was a property at 613 Riverside Drive in Rainelle. No one was present to speak up for this property so a unanimous vote was made to proceed with the demolition petition.
Next on the agenda was 502 10th Street in Rainelle. Owners Brandon and Rebecca Bachtler were present to offer their side, asking to be allowed to fix up the property rather than have it condemned. The Bachtlers said they had purchased the property in January and that their lawyer had been unable to find any record of a demolition order being filed. The notice of condemnation on the property was issued on July 19, 2023.
Bachtler explained that he wanted to fix the property up. He went on to explain that he owned and rented out several properties throughout Greenbrier County and had the means to fix up the property in question in Rainelle. When asked for a time frame Bachtler Replied “a roof on in two weeks.“
After 20 minutes of discussion on this property, the commission still voted unanimously to issue the order for demolition.
Next, 1601 Riverside Drive in Rainelle had no speech on its behalf so the commission once again voted unanimously to issue the petition for demolition.
The fourth property up was 164 Old Pike Road in Smoot. Ownership of this property has remained with the estate after the death of the previous owner. The administrator of the estate consented to demolition but the heirs have been unreachable. The notice of condemnation was issued on August 30, 2023. The commission passed to issue the demolition petition on a unanimous vote.
Next up was a property located at 131 Harper Road in Lewisburg. Ludwig explained to the commission that this was another property that went to an estate. All of the heirs couldn’t be located to obtain voluntary consent forms for the demolition. The commission again voted unanimously to issue the petition for demolition.
Speaking up for the property at 137 Coalfield Trail was owner Gregory Franklin. He told the commission how he had taken out the kitchen, bathroom, windows and doors. He went on to say that there’s nothing left but the block walls and the cement is gone, the lumber pulled out. Franklin said he doesn’t have a problem with the county tearing down the remaining structure but does have a problem with them putting a lien on it.
Ludwig said if the commission decides to proceed with the demolition order, the planning department won’t put a lien on the property.
Once again, the vote was unanimous to issue the petition for demolition with the stipulation no lien would be put on the property.
Unanimous votes were made to demolish several more structures around Greenbrier County including 3380 Coalfield Trail in Leslie, 3392 Coalfield Trail in Leslie, 1652 Midland Trail West in Charmco, 11525 Midland Trail West in Crawley, 3482 Coalfield Trail in Leslie and 3742 Anthony Road in Frankford.
Bids were reviewed that had been submitted for the installation of a new roof on the home confinement building in Ronceverte. Two Bids were received and will now be reviewed by the commission.
The commission approved the hiring of a new employee at the Greenbrier County Assessor’s Office. Former Interim County Commissioner Nick Daily was appointed to the Greenbrier County Planning Commission.
The commission awarded Greenbrier Communications the contract for the White Sulphur Springs EMS emergency generator project.
In a unanimous vote, the commission voted to move all trials to the Gus Douglas Annex at the State Fair of West Virginia grounds until completion of the renovations at the Greenbrier County Courthouse.
Next meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission will be December 10.
