Wetzel County Commission members say they need time to consider funding the annual Back Home Festival in New Martinsville.

The commission met April 15 at the Wetzel County Commission Building for a regular monthly session. Commission President Lisa Heasley opened the meeting after leading in the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners Carla McBee and Kelly Nelsen were present.

Heasley turned the meeting over to Robby Parsons, executive director of the Back Home Festival, and Sharon Campbell, director of the Wetzel/Tyler County Chamber of Commerce, who asked for funding for this year’s festival. Campbell spoke first about the economic impact of the Back Home Festival, saying we need to keep the festival in our area because of all the dollars it brings in.

She said, “Every year it grows in leaps and bounds with bigger name entertainment and a lot more visitors from afar and the visitors support our local businesses. So, we need to support and do everything we can to keep this festival here.”

Parsons then spoke and said Sharon summed it up, but said he wanted to report on the many dollars it brings to the area. He said the festival was started in 2017 and just grows bigger every year.

“We were voted WV #1 event in the state again this past year,” Parsons said.

Commissioner Kelly Nelsen said the commission needed to discuss their budget in more detail before they decide on funding.

“We will discuss it in private and get back to you as soon as a decision is made,” he said.

Meanwhile, the commission also approved placing a sealed reprimand letter regarding the Director of the Animal Shelter in her personnel file. No related discussion was held. Also approved was the part-time rehire of Rozella Adams to the animal shelter with a starting wage of $13 per hour effective immediately.

In other matters, Carolyn Yoho, director of the Mountaineer Food Bank was next to speak, requesting $20,000 funding for the Pine Grove Co-Op/VFD Food Pantry.

Yoho said, “Pine Grove is in need of the disbursement of the Mountaineer Food Bank and anyone in need is always welcome.”

The commission gave the same answer to Yoho about discussing the budget further before making a decision.

County Clerk, Jessica Davis asked the commission to make possible changes on precinct boundary lines by combining precincts 10 & 11. Jessica asked Prosecutor Tim Haught if he could help with direction on the order of code for the change. Prosecutor Haught told Jessica to forward him the information and he would look into it.

The commissioner’s approved the Levy Order and Rate Sheet for the Regular Current Expense Levy 2025-2026, and the Levy Order and Rate Sheet, Excess Levy-Fire & EMS 2025-2026. The commission also approved the meeting minutes from April 1, 2025 and April 3, 2025.