Wetzel County Commissioner Kelly Nelsen

The Wetzel County Commission met on Tuesday morning January 21, 2025, for their first meeting of the new year with newly elected Commissioner Kelly Nelsen filling the seat of retired commissioner Greg Morris. Commission President Lisa Heasley opened the meeting following the Pledge of Allegiance.

The first order of business was the appointment of officers for 2025. Commissioner Nelsen made a motion to keep Heasley the President, and commissioner Carla McBee as vice president. All three commissioners voted unanimously for the motion.

Cindy Glasscock of the Folsom Fire Department was present to request funding for a three year preventative maintenance contract for the power load system and stair step system for a quoted amount of $36,984. Commissioner Nelsen asked Glasscock how many calls per year the VFD gets and if there are some in Harrison County. Mrs. Glasscock replied to about 300 calls per year and stated yes they occasionally cover calls for Harrison County. Nelsen then asked if she had approached Harrison County for funding. Glasscock replied she had not because Harrison county is not in their jurisdiction. Commissioner Nelsen made the motion to fund $30,000 for the Folsom Fire Department. The motion was approved unanimously by the commission.

Commissioners also addressed a previously tabled request from the Town of Pine Grove for $30,000 to drill two new water wells. The request was made in 2024 . Commissioner McBee questioned Pine Groves failure to increase rates to cover their expenses and she didn’t feel it was an emergency situation. It was also noted that no engineering study had been made regarding water at the proposed sites and they felt the Town could hook up to the public service district if needed.

Commissioners denied a $50,000 request from the West Virginia Country Roads Festival and tabled any action pending further review of festival budgets.

The approval of meeting minutes of December 17, 2024, was granted by the commission.

The employment of Samantha Cochran at the Wetzel County Extension Office was given unanimous approval by the commission.

The commission unanimously approved a $1,200 per month salary increase for Wetzel County Sheriff Office Secretary Julie Slie raising her annual salary to $49,300.

The commission also unanimously approved an increase in salary for Lori Yoho, County Clerk’s Office Probate Dept. For an annual salary of $44,000 per year, and an increase in salary for Cierra Blair, Sheriff’s Department Tax Office who recently completed her probationary period was granted by the commission for a salary of $42,900 per year.

The commission denied a request from the Pine Grove VFD for assistance in paying off a 2009 Ford ambulance..

The commission set the mileage reimbursement rate at .70 cents a mile as per the new IRS rate.

The Commission approved the appointment of Jim Colvin as Chairman, and R.J. Feldmeier as Vice-Chairman of the E-911 Advisory Board for new terms in 2025.

The request of former Sheriff, Michael Koontz, for utilization of 300 plus unused sick leave days for retirement was given unanimous approval from the commission.

The commission approved the request for an administrative order for the general hours for the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Prosecutor Haught noted his office hours would remain unchanged.

A change in the Wetzel County Commission meeting date from March 4th to March 5th, 2025, was unanimously approved due to a conflict with the commissioners’ conference.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the commission will be held on Tuesday, February 4, at 9 am in the commission chambers.