Laura Dean Bennett
Staff Writer
Region 4 Planning Council representative Jane Baker addressed the Pocahontas County Commission at its October 16 meeting about the potential benefits of a Community Development Block Grant from the West Virginia Development Office.
The purpose of the grant would be to thoroughly analyze Pocahontas County’s residential and business broadband needs and how best to improve internet service throughout the county.
A public meeting to discuss the grant application will be scheduled for later this month.
John Lamb, who was on the agenda to speak about necessary repairs to the cannon which sits on the courthouse lawn, was not present at the meeting. Allegheny Mountain Radio reporter Tim Walker told commissioners that Bryan’s Battery – a local group of re-enactors to which he belongs – might undertake the task of refurbishing the cannon.
The matter will be put on a future agenda.
Commissioners approved a resolution in support of a grant application by Pocahontas County Clerk Melissa Bennett and Pocahontas County Circuit Clerk Connie Carr for a Records Management and Preservation Board grant.
The $10,000 grant, if it is awarded to Pocahontas County, will be used to purchase a computer and to scan and index Pocahontas County courthouse records – particularly records from 1822 to 1900, as well as records from the Huntersville Courthouse, many of which were preserved during the Civil War by the then county clerk hiding them in hay stacks.
Commissioners voted to appoint Kendall Beverage, a designated representative of the Pocahontas County Fire Board, to the Pocahontas County Wrecking/Towing Committee.
The commissioners approved a budget resolution to reflect the receipt of a federal grant and county match of $269,108.00, a state emergency management grant of $5,000 and receipt of a $95 law enforcement reimbursement.
Bob Martin, in his counsel report, stated that the hotel/motel property tax settlement agreement with William P. Stump and his company, Mountain Resort Realty, LLC., has been finalized and, as a result, the county now owns Unit 107B at Summit Condominium in Snowshoe. Martin will research how to best advertise the condo for sale and whether the county can ask for sealed bids.
Due to the November 6 election, the next commission meeting will be held Monday, November 5, at 8:30 a.m.
The public is invited to attend.
Laura Dean Bennett may be contacted at ldb@pocahontastimes.com