Tyler County Commission met in a second-floor courthouse room on Dec. 11 while early voting for the levy election occurred in their usual first-floor chambers.

Rosemary Guida, director of the Northern Panhandle Work Force Investment Board, was in attendance. She informed the commission that she is seeking contact with gas and oil companies in order to get people set up with work. She also reported an increase in funding awards. According to her, activity has picked up quite a bit in the counties of Tyler and Wetzel.

“We’ve been able to serve anybody who wants to go back to school as soon as they walk through the door,” said Guida, regarding youth education programs.

County Clerk Teresea Hamilton read the fiduciary report, which was approved. After accepting one resignation in her office, the commission accepted Sandra Thomas as a full-time employee starting Dec. 17. Citing the workload during recent elections, Hamilton also raised the possibility of increasing her staff by another full-time person.

In budget revisions, $2000 was moved out of Other Funds and divided equally between Dues and Subscriptions and Contracts and Services.

Looking ahead at Tyler County’s 2014 bicentennial, the adoption of a county seal was proposed. Though a school contest with a judging panel was one suggestion, the design project may be open to others.

A former Office of Emergency Management Jeep is set to be auctioned off on the courthouse steps Dec. 22, 9 a.m., with commission President Charles “Pork” Smith leading the auction.

Regarding a Chevy Trailblazer with a blown engine, Sheriff Kendle said that his office does not plan to spend money repairing the vehicle and will instead try to locate another public department that can use it.

According to Commissioner Eric Vincent, the main topics discussed at a regional commissioners meeting Dec. 5 were jail costs and Charleston bills.

In other news: the commission is awaiting contact on the status of a new extension agent; Friendly Public Service District appointed Arthur Mason for a six-year term on their board of directors; and Eric Peters was approved as a member of the Wetzel/Tyler Board of Health.

The courthouse will be closed Dec. 24-25.