Pocahontas County Ambulance to Begin 7 Days-Per-Week Operation

At the November 21^st regular Pocahontas County Commission meeting, the commissioners approved the hiring of Kiara Davis as a part time EMT for the Pocahontas County Ambulance Authority. Commissioner Rebinski announced that Davis is anticipated to be the last employee needed for the new county-run ambulance service and although a number of the previously hired part-time employees have for one reason or another left, he anticipates work force that remains is stable. He also said that with the hiring of Davis, the ambulance is now sufficiently staffed to begin operating all seven days each week in the northern part of the county.

The commissioners approved a resolution reaffirming the Greenbrier Valley Economic Development Corporation (GVEDC) as the county’s lead economic development agency, and approved the state assessment of $1.25 per county resident to pay for the GVEDC’s services.

They also approved a proclamation which was requested by Nancy Dotson of West Virginia Caring Hospice Care, which affirms the commission’s support for November being designated as National Hospice Month.

The commissioners approved the hiring of Stephanie Bennett as the full-time Administrative Assistant for the Pocahontas County Day Report at $14.00 per hour, to start on November 27^th.

Additionally:

• The commissioners approved a revision of the previously approved draw-down request #7 from the Pocahontas County ARC Broadband Project. Amanda Smarr of Region 4 explained that the amount of money was not changed, only some wording and clerical errors in the original draw-down request were revised.
• They appointed Jeff Barlow to the remainder of a three-year term on the county EMS Authority.
• They acknowledged receipt of information that the County Bar Association has appointed of one of its members to the Pocahontas County Deputy Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission.
• The commission also created a state-mandated Salary Enhancement Fund and a checking account for that fund in the amount of $143,763 of state money to be divided among EMS employees based on the number of calls-for service they respond to yearly.

The commissioners also acknowledged the receipt of the resignation of Donald McNeel as County Flood Plain Manager which will be effective in January of 2024, and they also announced that the commission’s Christmas luncheon will be held in the courthouse hallway, beginning at noon on December 8^th.

At the end of the meeting, the commissioners went into an executive session to discuss with Connie Carr, the Circuit Clerk, her office’s Internet domain/page being acquired by a third party.