Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
Carol Bush with the U.S. Census Bureau briefed the Pocahontas County Commission about the 2020 Census process Tuesday. She said they are still hiring census workers. Letters will be mailed to households in the county in mid-March.
Door-to-door visits will be made during May, June and July to those who fail to respond to the letters.
Administrative Secretary Sue Helton informed the commission that the County Clerk’s Office received a $10,000 grant from West Virginia Culture & History for records preservation.
Additionally, the commission:
• approved a lease extension for the West Virginia Division of Forestry at the ARC building.
• appointed Terri Workman Helmick as a Pocahontas County Fiduciary Com- missioner.
• conducted a Board of Review and Equalization Hearing with no reviews scheduled or heard.
Commission Counsel Bob Martin reported that the Silver Creek Association has withdrawn its court motion to reverse the assessor’s decision to reassess 247 units located in the commercial zone, but also stated its intent to request exoneration on these assessments from the commission in the fall. Martin also reported the Opioid Settlement litigation is moving forward, but very slowly, with a meeting for lawyers for all West Virginia litigants scheduled for February 25 and 26. He said it could be months or years before the county receives any settlement money.
The commission approved the following contributions from Hotel/Motel Tax funds:
• Family Resource Network, $4,000 for its student food backpack program.
• Northern Pocahontas Community Assistance, $5,000 to build a 12’ by 20’ storage shed at the Green Bank Senior Center.
• Art in Green Bank, $5,000 to promote art in the schools.
• Pocahontas County Historic Landmarks Commission, $5,000 for maintenance emergencies.
• Humane Society of Pocahontas County, $5,000 as a grant match for its Spay and Neuter Program.
The next County Commission meeting is Tuesday, February 18, at 5:30 p.m.