By: Jennifer Britt
The Parsons Advocate
For the sixteenth time, Tucker County Clerk, Sherry Simmons called to order the first meeting in 2023 of the Tucker County Commission. The first order of business was to elect the President of the Commissioners for the year of 2023, and Mike Rosenau won that vote. Rosenau was nominated by newly elected Commissioner Tim Knotts and was seconded by returning Commissioner Fred Davis. Rosenau thanked his fellow commissioners and said, “I will do my best to represent the county as best as I can. I think we are going to have a good team this year.”
Afterwards Simmons turned the floor over to Rosenau to continue the business listed on the agenda for the day. The first item listed was the payday and holiday calendar for 2023. Rosenau said, “We try to follow the State’s calendar.” Simmons explained that the presented calendar came from the West Virginia department of personnel. The Commission voted to accept the calendar as presented.
The commissioners then voted to approve the meeting and session schedule as presented. The Commission will meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month unless otherwise announced. There is only one meeting held, on the second Wednesday, in November and December. The first meeting of the month will be held at 9 a.m. and the second meeting will be held at 4 p.m. in October through April and then at 6 p.m. for May through September. Rosenau explained the time changes by saying, “It is for the public’s convenience. We want to make sure we separate our meetings enough that people have an opportunity to come.”
During the year the commissioners sit on different boards throughout the county and those designated boards are as follows: Rosenau will represent the Commission by sitting on the Board of Health, Planning Commission, Development Authority, Historic Landmark Commission, Corridor H Authority Board, Flood Steering Committee, Local Emergency Planning Committee, Community Corrections Board, Wage and Hour Board, Workforce Investment Board, and the Region VII Planning and Development Board.
Davis will represent the Commission by sitting on the Canaan Valley Board of Zoning Appeals, Parks and Recreation Board, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Solid Waste Authority, Animal Shelter Advisory Board Council, and the Cultural District Authority.
Knotts will represent the Commission by sitting on the Ambulance Authority Board, Building Commission, Extension Service Committee, and the Camp Kidd Advisory Board.
There are some boards that need new members. The following have or will have openings in the coming year. Some of them have specific guidelines in the by-laws that must be met, but anyone interested in serving one of these can contact the Tucker County Commission’s office for additional information. Those boards, commissions, councils or authorities include: Canaan Valley Board of Zoning Appeals; Board of Health; 911 Advisory Council; Planning Commission; Parks and Recreation; Development Authority; Ambulance Authority Board; Animal Shelter Advisory Board; Historic Landmark Commission; Cultural District Authority; and the Camp Kidd Advisory Board.
Each commissioner is also seated on a standing committee. Rosenau is on the County Finance Committee. Davis is on the County Personnel Committee, and Knotts is on the County Facilities Committee.
The commissioners then motioned to approve three separate resolutions presented. The first was the Citizens Participation Plan that authorizes Rosenau, as President, to enter into a contractual agreement with the Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Services for the purpose of receiving and administrating grant funds of the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Program.
The second was the Community Development Block Grant Funds Resolution that allows the Commission President, Rosenau, to sign the application for the funds and to act as official representative. The third resolution, known as the Fair Housing Resolution, resolved that the Tucker County Commission will make a firm commitment to do all within its power to eliminate prejudice, intolerance, disorder, and discrimination in housing.
All three motions carried and were approved.
The final order of the day was to the motion to approve funds requested by the Tucker County Ambulance Authority. The authority requested $55,000 from the general county allotment. The county allots $110,000 each year. The Commission approved this motion, and the meeting was adjourned.
