Pocahontas Commissioners Approve Repairs at Animal Shelter

At the March 18^th Pocahontas County Commission meeting, in addition to the public meeting regarding the proposed ordinance that would impose a fee on retail sales to pay for the county’s emergency ambulance service, which we covered in part 1 of this meeting story, the commissioners also took the following actions at the meeting.

Based on an estimate which had been provided by Shaun McCarty of the Marlinton based company, Pocahontas Development Resources LLL., the commissioners approved hiring that company for $8,000 to do the following repairs at the Pocahontas County Animal Shelter:

• Installation of a 6-foot-high aluminum sheeted wall behind the dog pens, designed to prevent the damage done in the past by the dogs to the existing wall. Above the wall, they will also install “micro walls” up to the ceiling.
• Anchor the dog cages to the new wall.
• Provide paint to animal control to paint the new wall.
• Replace the hot water tank in the shelter’s bathroom.
• Replace the outdoor water faucet.
• Install a peep hole in the main entrance door to enable employees to see who is entering.

Because of the amount of the estimate, it did not need to be bid out.

The commissioners also opened two bids received for the purchase of a vehicle to be used by the sheriff’s Department for the service of court processes. They approved the lowest bid, which was from Mitchell Chevrolet for a black 2025 Chevrolet Colorado 4-wheel drive pick-up truck, for $34,175. The other bid received was from Magic City Auto in the amount of $59,813 for a 2024 Chevrolet Taho.

Amy Trusdale of the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC) asked the commissioners to sign the Voluntary Remediation Agreement regarding the EPA clean-up project at the former Howes Tannery property in Frank. The commissioners had already approved the agreement at an earlier meeting, but it still needed their signatures, which they did provide.

At the request of Jodi Zickefoose, the Day Report Director, the commissioners approved the 2026 Community Corrections Grant Application, in the amount of $75,000.

They also approved the request of Region Four’s Amanda Smarr for the payment of Draw Request # 13 from the Pocahontas County ARC Broadband Project in the amount of $437,766.30. Smarr said this money will come from funds available in the approved grant, and be used to pay 25 invoices from Mon Power for their required utility pole inspections. The inspected poles will be used to string the fiber for the project, but each one was inspected, and improved, if necessary, to insure they can handle the additional weight of the fiber lines.

Carla Miller addressed the commissioners, asking them if the demolition of the buildings on the recently purchased county property adjacent to the courthouse would also include the removal of all the junk that has been scattered about out throughout that property. After being assured that is included in the demolition grant, which should happen in April or May, Miller also expressed concerns about trespassers hanging around the property. Other than calling 911, they had no other solutions to offer her about that.

The commissioners also:

• Approved a 2025 -2026 letter of commitment of $25,000 to the Mountain Transit Authority, which is done annually.
• Approved their FY 2025-2026 county Budget.
• Approved a correction to the Budget Revision and Resolution #3 and approved In-House Budget Revisions #711 and 712.
• Appointed Jayrd Wilfong to the LEPC Board as the PMH Representative.