Commission Supports Spruce Knob Broadband Application

Marlinton, WV – The Pocahontas County Commission voted to approve a letter of support for Spruce Knob Seneca Rocks Telephone during their regular meeting on Tuesday. The non-profit cooperative, based in neighboring Pendleton County, is hoping to qualify in the next round of federal stimulus funding. They want to use the money to offer broadband access to northern Pocahontas County, according to the letter drafted by Commissioner David Fleming.

At the commission meeting on April 2nd, Fleming had requested a $5000 contribution for the company to help with application costs. But the other commissioners were unwilling to make that commitment. Fleming made it clear he was not requesting any funds this time, just the letter.

In other business, the commission discussed the emergency closing policy of the courthouse. After further tweaking of the document, they decided to add language specifying that in an emergency situation, Emergency Services Director Melvin Martin will contact each elected official to apprise them of the situation. It will be left to the discretion of the official as to whether their employees will be expected to come to work.

The commission also decided to release the West Virginia Recovery Zone bonds back to the state. Commissioners Reta Griffith and David Fleming wanted to pursue the bond funding for the courthouse annex project, but decided to drop it, citing budgetary concerns.

The Commission also took the following actions:

Approved a resolution designating April 2010 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pocahontas County
Approved resolutions for Community Participation Grants for Allegheny Mountain Radio and Pocahontas Woods for $25,000.00 each
Gave permission for a Kindergarten Class Easter Egg hunt on the lawn of the courthouse during the last week of March
Approved mowing contracts with Gwynne Furr and Dick Robinson on county owned land
And appointed Jerry Ramos, Cookie Doss and Mike Holstine to the Pocahontas County Parks and Recreation Board.

The next regular meeting of the Pocahontas County Commission will be Tuesday, April 6th.