Samuel Richardson

The Wetzel County Commission on Tuesday, June 17, approved a request from Samuel Richardson, Transportation Planning Director for Belomar Regional Council to support their efforts for the Regional Comprehensive Safety Action Plan. Richardson said Belomar is requesting $2,500 from all four of their counties to move forward with the plan. Wetzel County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Haught questioned whether Belomar had any plans to use the funds for sidewalks in the area of New Martinsville near the Villas Apartments where there have been several accidents involving pedestrians and vehicles, including four deaths. Richardson replied they are working with the city to try and get sidewalk grants. He said the community is encouraged to apply.

Also on Tuesday, Chuck Clegg, representing the New Martinsville Rotary requested $125.00 for hole sponsorship in the upcoming Buddy Light/Keith Craycraft golf tournament to be held in Sistersville, in August. “The golf tournament provides scholarships for local students and helps the club with funds to eradicate Polio, plus other Rotary projects,” said Clegg.

The club provided several $1,000 scholarships in 2024 and the golf tournament is a major fundraiser for the club. Commissioner Carla McBee made a motion to approve the $125.00, Commissioner Kelly Nelsen seconded, and it was passed unanimously.

Michael Anderson, Assistant Fire Chief for the Pine Grove, VFD was on the agenda to seek assistance to pay for an ambulance. He failed to show.

Approval was unanimously given to accept the meeting minutes from June 3, 2025 and June 6, 2025. Also approved unanimously was the designation of Depositories for the fiscal year 2025-2026. An order changing the magisterial boundary lines for precincts 10 and 11 was unanimously approved following a motion for the change from Commissioner McBee and a second from Commissioner Nelsen.

A discussion was held concerning live streaming future Commission meetings. Commissioner Nelsen made a motion to proceed with it and it was seconded by Commissioner McBee. It was then discussed to possibly put it live on Facebook. Another suggestion was to place it on you tube for the public to view in a way similar to how the Board of Education does theirs. Prosecutor Haught suggested looking into the legalities of live streaming. He said with A1 there could be some problems with people making changes to the meetings. He is to look into it and get back with the commissioners.

Just for clarification purposes, Commissioner Kelly stated commission meetings will be held on each Tuesday of the month with the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays being appointment meetings and the 2nd and 4th meetings would have no appointments. It was also decided after a short discussion to have all meeting times after July 1, start at 9:30 am.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 a.m. The next meeting of the County Commission will be held July 1, 2025 at the commission chambers.