Dave Barrick requests May 1 as the date for National Day of Prayer in the county.

The Tyler County Commission met in regular session on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in the auditorium of the Senior Center in Middlebourne. After opening with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer, commissioners approved the minutes from the March 11 meeting along with the fiduciary report and exonerations.

First on the agenda was the Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center requesting the commissioners designate April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and to grant permission to display the children’s memorial flag at the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office. Commission President Eric Vincent read the Proclamation, and the commissioner unanimously approved the request.

Commissioner Lance Hickman requested approval to reserve July 22 – 24, 2025, for Tyler County Youth Days at the 4H Camp. He also encouraged county officials to volunteer their time during the event. The commissioners approved the request.

Commission President Eric Vincent asked for approval of the office budgets, noting that the most significant change was a 16% increase in the health insurance costs. Commissioners approved the office budgets.

Chris Keller from the tax office asked the commissioners to approve the exit letter from Compiled Technologies for their software. At the last meeting the commissioners approved switching from Complied to Global Science Technologies (GST). Commissioners approved the exit letter.

Dave Barrick asked the Commission to declare May 1, 2025, as Tyler County National Day of Prayer with ceremonies to be held in the communities of Middlebourne and Sistersville. The commissioners unanimously approved the request.

Adrianna Lindsey from THA Realty presented the commissioners the asking price for the Bunn-Livingston property adjacent to the courthouse. The county’s goal is to purchase the land, demolish the vacant house and expand the needed parking for the courthouse. The asking price is $65,000, but the commissioners instructed Lindsey to submit a counter offer of $40,000. She will present the response from the property owners at the next meeting.

Jana Turner spoke to the Commission regarding their decision to approve moving the Wetzel/Tyler Health Department to New Martinsville. She was asking the Commission not to approve this move or support the move financially. Her reasons were many including the inconvenience for an aging population, the majority of which reside in Paden City, to travel to New Martinsville to utilize the health department. She also questioned why the Commission was using Tyler County tax dollars to construct a new health department in Wetzel County.

E-911 Director Josh Fulks asked the commissioners for approval to hire Chris McGinnis as a dispatcher with a start date of April 14, 2025. Commissioners approved the hire.

Following the approval to pay the bills, the meeting was adjourned following a meeting with the contractors on the courthouse renovation. The next meeting of the Tyler County Commission is scheduled for April 8, 2025, in the auditorium of the Senior Center in Middlebourne.