Pocahontas County Commission to Place “Brunch Bill” on November Ballot

At their August 2^nd meeting, the Pocahontas County Commission heard from Kathy Carpenter and Emily Malcom who asked the Commissioners to place Senate Bill 298, commonly referred to as the “Brunch Bill” on the November Election Ballot. The bill, which passed the West Virginia Legislature and was signed into law, would change the Sunday starting hours in which alcoholic beverages can be sold from 1 p.m. to 10 a.m. The newly enacted law requires that voters in each county have to vote on the law before it can become effective in their county.  The change of hours is supported by many restaurants and other businesses which sell alcohol -particularly in the Snowshoe Resort area. They feel the new hours will make the County a more attractive destination to tourists.

In other actions, the Commissioners received an update from John Tuggle of the Region 4 Planning and Development Council regarding the Snowshoe Sewer Project.

The Commissioners discussed a Courthouse Maintenance personnel matter in Executive – or closed – session.

Following another Executive Session, the Commissioners approved the request of Sheriff Jonese to hire Ian Galloway as a full-time Law Enforcement Deputy.

The Commissioners heard from Chris Negley of the County Public Service District who requested that the Commissioners enlarge the boundary of the Pocahontas County Public Service district. This would include Snowshoe and Silver Creek Resorts in their Water Project. The commissioners approved this.

Dave Selko of the West Virginians for Affordable Health Care briefed the Commissioners on Medicaid benefits to Pocahontas county.

The Commissioners also entertained contribution/funding requests from various non-profit organizations.

• They contributed $5000.00 for the purchase of new safer football helmets for PCHS.
• They contributed $3000.00 to the Tucker Foundation’s 2016 “Run-For-It” race.
• They contributed $5000.00 to the Pocahontas County Prevention Coalition, pending receiving their financial statement.

Both the County Parks and Recreation and the Mountain Resource Conservation and Development Area, Inc withdrew their funding requests before the meeting.

The Commissioners appointed Donald McNeel to a six year term on the Pocahontas Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.

They also adopted an emergency absentee voting policy, a routine action before each election to ensure that patients at the Hospital can vote.

Acting on a request from several affected citizens from the North Fork of Deer Creek and/or the Wesley Chapel areas of the County, the Commissioners agreed to write a letter to the Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone Company asking them to reconsider their decision to discontinue cable TV service to those communities.

The Commissioners provided updates on their Commission Board assignments.

The meeting ended with the signing of invoices.