Tim Walker
AMR Reporter
The proposed Emergency Ambulance Fee County Ordinance which would charge a fee on all purchases made in Pocahontas County was discussed again at the February 18 county commission meeting.
Commission President John Rebinski explained that the fee is needed to provide proper paid ambulance service to the entire county. He said that because tourists and other people visiting the county account for a portion of ambulance usage, it would not be fair to only charge county residents, so he favors a user fee that will look like and be collected in the same way as the state retail sales tax. He said it will simply add a percentage fee to all purchases made in the county. Rebinski explained he is still not sure if one-percent would generate enough income, or if a two- percent fee would be needed.
Travis Cook from the Shavers Fork Fire and Rescue said he favors the fee but feels sales within the RAD area at Snowshoe should not be exempt as suggested earlier by Rebinski. Cook said that while the RAD fee supports Shavers Fork Fire and Rescue providing paid ambulance service in the RAD area, that fee also is used to support a number of other things, not just emergency services. He said that perhaps the way to go is to charge the fee and Shavers Fork would receive their ambulance financial support from the county fee instead of from the RAD.
Herbie Barlow of the Marlinton VFD said the commission should also discuss this with Marlinton. Barlow said that the southern area of the county will definitely need a 24/7 paid ambulance service.
Commissioner Thane Ryder said he believes no areas of the county should be exempt from the fee. He also said that before they pass such a fee, they should determine exactly how much money is required to provide the county-wide paid ambulance service, and whether a one- or even a two-percent fee would be sufficient to finance that service.
Rebinski said all of this remains open for discussion and said there will be a public discussion on all these issues related to the fee as the last item on the agenda for the March 18 regular evening commission meeting.
It was suggested that that discussion be widely advertised to the public and perhaps moved to the courtroom upstairs in the courthouse.
In other matters, the commission approved the demolition of the existing structures on the lot next to the courthouse which the commission recently purchased. It was explained by Bruce VanMeter, Marlinton’s Floodplain Manager, that the cost of the demolition will be fully covered by the town’s DEP Grant since the town will also benefit from the demolition. VanMeter also said Marlinton Town Council has approved the removal of the town’s undeveloped alley right-of-way that ran through that property.
The commission reopened then closed the last session of the 2025 Board of Review and Equalization hearings.
The commission also approved the following dates and times for its 2025-2026 budget work sessions:
1. Friday, March 7, at 10 a.m.;
2. Tuesday, March 11, at 2 p.m.;
3. Thursday, March 13, at 10 a.m.
Other items approved were:
• A $22,000 Budget Amendment for the PMH HVAC Project. Donna Ward of Region 4 explained this will simply free up grant money unspent on fees and permits so it can be used on actual construction of the project.
• A donation of $2,500 to the Non-Profit Southern WV Chapter of Trout Unlimited so that it can be used for their June 6 – 8 Operation Thornwood, which is a camp that provides fishing opportunities and training for disabled veterans.
• To allow the Sheriff’s Department to put vehicle specifications out for bid for a midsize 4-wheel drive pickup that will be used by their process server.
• A budget revision and resolution for courthouse expenditures and in-house budget revisions. It was explained these are routine adjustments to get everything in proper alignment.