LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) — The Greenbrier County Commission approved a contractor for a county broadband expansion project and discussed several infrastructure initiatives during its March 10 meeting.
Commissioners opened the meeting with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance before moving through routine administrative items, including approval of minutes from the Feb. 24 meeting, estate settlements and financial documents.
During financial approvals, commissioners approved three budget revisions, including reimbursements for law enforcement overtime. One reimbursement came from the Aviagen turkey operation for sheriff’s deputies providing traffic control on Muddy Creek Mountain.
“I think it’s security when they do escorts up and down Muddy Creek Mountain,” one official said during the discussion, explaining deputies help manage traffic when large trucks travel the narrow road.
Commissioners also considered several items related to the county’s “Gig Ready” broadband expansion project. Two agenda items tied to the project were tabled pending additional information from the county attorney.
However, commissioners voted to approve a recommendation from engineering firm Thompson and Litton to award the project contract to Telecommunications Solutions LLC.
The contract for the broadband project was approved for $6,155,157.67, with commissioners noting the company was the lowest bidder.
Commissioners also approved Resolution No. 10 related to the wastewater treatment plant disinfectant project in White Sulphur Springs.
Officials said construction on the project is largely finished, though some adjustments to the system are still being made.
“As far as the actual construction, it’s 100% complete,” an engineer said during the meeting. “We’re having a little bit of troubleshooting… to get the system dialed in correctly.”
Commissioners approved a payment totaling $38,250.13 related to the project, contingent upon receiving an updated expenditure schedule.
The commission also reviewed a proposal for a major water meter upgrade project tied to the city’s tax increment financing district.
City officials explained the current meter system, installed in 2013, is failing and replacement parts are no longer being produced.
“The manufacturer of the radio has stopped producing the AM frequency radio, so we can’t buy them to replace them,” a city official said. “Without this upgrade, we’re dead in the water.”
Officials said the new system would allow more accurate readings, detect leaks and reduce the need for workers to manually read meters.
Currently, about 300 meters are no longer functioning, requiring crews to read them manually.
“If I have to send four employees out for three days to read 300 meters, we’re losing money,” the official said.
Commissioners approved allowing the city to move forward with the project and seek bids for the estimated $1.705 million upgrade, pending legal review. Any compensation recovered from the previous meter system’s manufacturer would be required to reimburse the project’s tax increment financing fund.
The meeting concluded with discussion of updated zoning agreements. One commissioner said public input during recent hearings had been constructive.
“I was very pleased with the two hearings we had,” the commissioner said. “Everybody was cordial, and I appreciate their comments.”
The Greenbrier County Commission meets regularly to review county business, infrastructure projects and administrative matters.
