Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
Following an executive session at its August 21 meeting, the Pocahontas County Commission returned to the public meeting and announced its decision to hire Benjaman C. Brown as the new County Emergency Management Services and 911 Director. Commission President John Rebinski said Brown, who served as a 911 dispatcher, would be initially hired for two consecutive six-month probationary periods at a salary of $50,000 per year with full benefits.
In other matters
• The Pocahontas County Public Service Commission has informed the commission that it will no longer be a partner in the Beard Heights Water/Sewer Project, but they will not stand in the way of the Town of Marlinton’s participation in that project.
• The commission passed three measures concerning the Demolition Project of the old Board of Education building in Marlinton. Resolution #6 authorized payment out of that grant of $4,359.26 to pay Region 4’s administrative fees from October 2024 through July 2025. Budget Amendment #3 in the amount of $1,616.95 to cover required advertising expenses, and the remaining measure was approval of the final performance report which closes out that Community Block Demolition Grant.
• The commission discussed projects they are considering listing in their Courthouse Facilities Improvement Grant application. Those include re- placing the steps at the sidewalk in front of the courthouse with a handicap access ramp, repaving the back parking lot, replacing the courthouse gutters, and creating a gravel parking area on the newly acquired property next to the courthouse.
They decided to get cost estimates on these proposed projects to determine which of them will fall within the $125,000 grant limit.
• The commission received $90,909.09 from the Emergency Medical Services Equipment Fund Grant. Ninety-five percent of the monies will be divided among the medical transporting organizations in the county, and the remaining five percent will go to the Snowshoe Ski Patrol. This 95%-5% split is a requirement of the grant.
In other actions, the commission:
• voted to advertise for the open Custodian position on 8/28/25 and 9/4/25.
• approved the easement for the 911 tower on Beard Heights with PMH.
• approved utility right-of-way agreements with PMH and Seneca Health Services for the new 911 Center building.
• approved hiring Amberly Bennett as a Part-Time Driver and EMT for the County Ambulance Service.
