By Adam Pack
The Greenbrier County Commission met Tuesday, Apr. 12, at 10 a.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting. A full docket began with the final approval of the Greenbrier Humane Society’s $200,000 annual budget.
“This funding,” Commissioner Tammy Shiflett-Tincher explained, “is a continuation of funding we’ve been doing in previous years.” This comes after the Humane Society’s presentation of activity and expenses for fiscal year 2021 on Mar. 8. The Commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of granting the Humane Society’s request, with Commissioner McClung voting no.
The Commission was also excited to present West Virginia Helping Hands and the Quinwood Community Library with funds. The funds were checks awarded as a result of successful grants approved by the West Virginia House of Delegates and signed by the Governor’s Office. The grants were proposed, respectively, by Delegates Todd Longancre and Heather Tully. Cathy Morris and Amy Hubbard were present to accept a $7,000 check on behalf of Helping Hands.
“This money is going to do a lot of good,” said Hubbard. “It’ll go to renovations, new program planning… and hopefully help a whole lot of people.”
Representatives of the Quinwood Community Library were not able to attend the meeting, but Commissioner Rose explained that their funding would go toward purchasing new books for the library, as well as general upgrades. “Congratulations to both of these organizations on the receipt of these grants, and a big thank you to both Delegates Longanacre and Tully for proposing them,” said Rose.
Next, the Commission discussed granting the Mountain Transit Authority $10,000. The request comes amid services already added this year, as well-planned service additions. David Cook, MTA Supervisor of Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties, was on hand to answer questions.
“This year already we’ve resumed a Meadow River Area route, as well as added an airport route,” he explained. “We’ve also been working with Drug Court, getting people to and from that, especially out in the west end. We’ve been taking people to doctor’s visits and other non-emergency medical transport. We also have a direct route from Snowshoe to the Walmart going.” Mention was also made of the future plans for the MTA to provide shuttle services at the airport. Members of the Commission voted unanimously to approve the request.
Terri White of Children’s Home Society of West Virginia presented to the Commission the Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation. The Proclamation has already been signed by CASA, Davis Stuart, FRC, and other local organizations. All undersigned have done so to signal and clear dedication to the protection of all the signatories to the prevention of child abuse. The petition states that “In fiscal year 2021, there were upwards of 4.3 million reports to CPS.” The Greenbrier County Commission unanimously approved the signing of the proclamation.
White also discussed the upcoming Children’s Memorial Flag Day. The Society will be hosting an awareness and educational event on Children’s Memorial Flag Day, Apr. 29, at 12 noon at the Green Space. The Society will present a display of pinwheels to represent children and types of abuse they face each year. White informed members of the Commission of the importance of this event and bringing higher awareness to child above prevention, quoting national data that find that children of all types and all backgrounds almost equally face child abuse across America. But, all is not bad news: of the 300 children who entered the Children’s Home Society’s Lewisburg office in 2021, which serves Greenbrier, Monroe, Summers, and Pocahontas, 62 have entered permanency (or transitioned from foster care to full legal adoption). White and the CHS hope that with the signing of this proclamation and promoting Children’s Memorial Flag Day that these numbers can be improved even further, and more and more kids can enter permanency.
In other news, the Commission considered Draw Request #2 pertaining to the Greenbrier County Broadband project (totaling $20,215.91), an invoice pertaining to the Gigready TIF Project, and the signing of Resolution #7 pertaining to the Big Draft Waterline Extension Project. All three items were approved by the Commission.
The Greenbrier County Commission meets again on Apr. 26, at 10 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
