The Randolph County Commissioners gathered Wednesday for their bi-monthly meeting. From left are Commissioner Mark Scott, Commission President Mike Taylor and Commissioner Chris See.

ELKINS — With the closing of one area school and the emergency closure of another looming, the Randolph County Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to permanently move several polling places.

Precinct 205 will be moved from Homestead Elementary School to the Tygart Valley Fire Hall, while precinct 215 will move from Valley Head School to the Valley Head Library for all future elections, including a special election on Oct. 7 regarding Gov. Jim Justice’s recent road bond issue.

Additionally, due to the date of the election falling on the Saturday of the Mountain State Forest Festival, commissioners have temporarily moved three polling places for the special election.

Voters in precinct 25 who normally vote at the James F. Cain Courthouse Annex, voters in precinct 30 who normally vote at The Arts Center and voters in precinct 31 who normally vote at the Elkins-Randolph County Senior Center will all vote at the Phil Gainer Community Center for the special election.

“It’s presenting a tremendous logistical challenge for the county clerk, the Commission and everybody else,” Randolph County Commission President Mike Taylor said of the special election taking place during Forest Festival weekend.

Commissioners also voted during the meeting to move the early voting location from the James F. Cain Courthouse Annex to the Wees Annex for the special election as a trial going forward, noting the Wees Annex to be more accessible to those with disabilities.

Taylor and Commissioner Chris See voted for the change while Commissioner Mark Scott voted against the move, citing his desire for county residents to see the new commission room that was recently remodeled.

“I am really conflicted as to where we should go. I just love this room. It’s kind of the focal point of the county and I’d hate to see the early voting leave,” Scott said after the meeting. “But, I understand the Wees Annex to be more accessible so I’m conflicted.”

Taylor also said during the meeting that he is concerned with the ability to find poll workers during the MSFF. A minimum of five poll workers are required to be present at each of the 27 precincts throughout the county.

“Poll workers is going to be the biggest challenge,” he said.

The Commission also unanimously approved a motion that the Randolph County Courthouse and all county offices would remain open on Oct. 6, the Friday of Forest Festival.

On June 27, Justice signed a proclamation scheduling a statewide vote on a road bond issue that would permit the state to sell bonds to finance as much as $3 billion in road projects to be paid off with fee and tax increases.

Early voting will take place Sept. 22-Oct. 4.

In other business:

• Commissioners unanimously approved a funding request from the Elkins Depot Welcome Center for the Fourth of July car show in the amount of $1,500, to be taken from the hotel/motel tax budget line.

• The Commission voted unanimously to approve a funding request from the city of Harman for a Fourth of July celebration in the amount of $500, to be taken from the hotel/motel tax budget line.

• Commissioners unanimously approved the signage of a contract renewal with Global Science & Technology, Inc., at the cost of $1,380 per month. The company provides IT services for the county. The contract will run from July 1 through June 30, 2018.

• Commissioners unanimously approved the board appointment of Michael L. Atkins to the Pioneer Public Library Board.

• The Commission voted unanimously to approve the board appointment of Jared Howell to the Elkins-Randolph County Public Library Board.

• Commissioners unanimously accepted the resignation of Thomas R. Ross II as Fiduciary Commissioner for Randolph County.

The next Randolph County Commission meeting is slated for 1:30 p.m. on July 20.