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Tyler County Commission Discuss Busy Agenda

By Randy Rutherford - Staff Writer | Apr 2, 2021

Tyler County Commission held their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 9 AM. The meeting opened with a prayer by Eric Vincent and followed with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mike Smith. Following the approval of the minutes from the March 9, 2021 meeting the commissioners proceeded with agenda items. Among the many items discussed were the changes suggested by the Clarksburg based architectural firm WYK Associates which included the approval of design enhancement options for the Tyler County Courthouse, approval of the signature on the official change order for the Tyler 911 Center, and approval of the signature on the official change order for the Tyler County Courthouse complex project.

WYK Associates submitted a design for a Veterans Memorial garden earlier this month. After discussion the Commissioners agreed the design was beautiful, but felt they wanted the garden to be smaller in size and not as elaborate.

The commissioners offered a counter proposal plan to reduce the size of the memorial garden, and relocate the Veterans Wall, which now resides inside the Courthouse, to the garden. This change will allow the new Veteran’s Wall location to be available for viewing to more people, not just those entering the courthouse. The cost for the smaller garden will be $6,363.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Commissioners approved the placement of pinwheels and a sign on the courthouse lawn representing Child Abuse Prevention and approved the Children’s Memorial Flag to be flown at the Courthouse for the month of April.

Kathy Seago, from the Tyler County Action Group, updated the commissioners on the granite slab for the County Home Memorial.

The granite slab is now in Indiana and is scheduled for engraving. The original plan was to use the existing bricks remaining from the demolition of the home as part of the new memorial, but a gradually diminishing supply of bricks has made the plan obsolete. Additional bricks will need to be purchased to complete the memorial along with constructing a 4 foot pathway to make it handicap accessible. The Tyler County Action Group will continue to work with the Commissioners on the design and location of the memorial. At last month’s meeting the Lighthouse Child Advocacy Center requested $50,000 from the Commissioners for repairs and renovations on their newly purchased office building in New Martinsville. Since the new location is not in Tyler County, but funding has been provided in the past, and the CAC represents both Tyler and Wetzel Counties, the commissioners felt a formal written opinion from Prosecuting Attorney Luke Furbee needed to be completed before taking action on the request. The issue was tabled until the next commission meeting when a representative from the CAC can also attend to provide more information.

Josh Fulks, Director of the E-911 Center and Andy Weekley, Information Technology Specialist, discussed with Commissioners their ideas for the security system in the new buildings. Andy stated that the system could operate from one location at the 911 building which will allow security recordings and have the ability to view access to all the counties official buildings from the E-911 location. Since this was a discussion only topic the Commissioners agreed to let Josh and Andy move forward with plans and update Commissioners at next month’s meeting.

Tyler County will receive approximately $1.67 million from the Federal Government as part of COVID-19 Relief. Commissioners approved setting up an account for fund 207 as required by the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office to hold this money.

Under public comment, Tom Cooper, Office of Emergency Management, informed Commissioners that Covid-19 vaccinations are still available on Fridays in New Martinsville. He also expressed that anyone in West Virginia 16 years of age and older is eligible to receive a vaccination. Tom said the only way to locally schedule was to call 304-455-0071 to book an appointment. Tom assured the supply of shots was more than enough to handle all that want to be vaccinated.

Following the approval of the County Budget and the paying of the bills the meeting was adjourned at 10:05 AM. The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Tyler County Commission will be April 13, 2021 at the Tyler County Courthouse in the chambers of the County Commissioners.