Trending
Tenney
BUCKHANNON -- Upshur County Commissioners elected Kristie Tenney to be their president for 2021 at the first meeting of the year.
Tenney, who is beginning her third year of a six-year term, said she appreciated the opportunity to lead the commission in 2021. "I love to be able to serve and it's just an opportunity to serve in a different capacity," she said.
The Upshur County Commission approved their mission statement at Thursday's meeting which Tenney referenced.
"The mission of the Upshur County Commission is to provide superior public service and support which enables all county residents the opportunity to improve their quality of life and enjoy the benefits of a safe, sustainable and progressive community in North Central West Virginia."
"I think our mission statement does a fabulous job to sum up what our goals are as a commission and to continue to focus on that, to provide public service and support for our community and to just focus for how we can serve when there are opportunities given that we can help make the community."
For the last 10 months, the Upshur County Commission has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic like the rest of the world. At times, this has meant closing the courthouse to non-essential business.
"Our employees have done a fabulous job with all of the different changes that happen weekly, sometimes daily on different situations," Tenney said. "They have helped make the transition when we do need to close offices and have skeleton crews. They did a fabulous job with having to be flexible with that and still being able to focus on keeping everyone safe and happy."
Tenney said the commission will also continue a focus on courthouse security. Arriving later this month will be an X-ray machine that will be used in the annex lobby along with the metal detector and staffed courthouse security personnel.
"Courthouse security has been a good opportunity to keep the public and everyone safe," she said.
In recent months, the commission has took a firmer stance on properties that were referred to them from the Upshur County Safe Sites and Structures board.
"I think it's a positive for everyone involved," she said of the stance.
After giving some leeway to allow clean-up, the commission has began imposing fines on properties that have not come into compliance. Some of the cases have been outstanding for a year.
During last Thursday's meeting, the commission voted to impose a fine on property owned by Vicki Gardner but being used by her son-in-law, William Phillips.
The commissioners reviewed photos and heard from Gardner who joined in by phone.
Gardner said, "I was told that on the river side, the vehicles there are supposed to be moved out by Saturday. I have asked him to take care of the yard. I have tried picking up things myself, but I don't really have the strength to do it. He didn't want me to do anything because he is afraid I will hurt myself."
Gardner said she was "Beside herself" and asked for one more chance before the fines are activated.
"I just need help," she said.
Commissioner Terry Cutright, who joined the meeting by phone, said he visited the location with facilities director Greg Harris.
"I don't see much improvement at all," he said. "It would be my suggestion to impose a fine."
Commissioner Sam Nolte agreed.
The commission had granted a 30 day extension at the Dec. 3, 2020 meeting.
"Your son-in-law guaranteed us," he said. "I kind of went to bat for him by saying we will give you one more extension if you guarantee that it will be cleaned up. He made that guarantee and by looking at these photos he's done nothing that's noticeable."
Nolte moved, seconded by Cutright to implement the fine beginning Jan. 8 but to revisit the issue in a month. If the property is brought into compliance before that, Gardner should contact the commission office and the property will be reviewed before that date.
"I believe the only way this property is going to improve is by implementing a fine," Nolte said.
The motion passed unanimously.
The commission agreed to keep regular meetings of Thursdays at 9 a.m. but cancel if they do not have any thing on the agenda. Commissioners also agreed to retain their same board appointments for the 2021 year.
However, the commission agreed to a change to the agenda of leaving off the pay rate from new hires. The public will need to submit a FOIA request for that information.
Last year, the commission chose to keep the names of employees resigning from the agenda.