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ELKINS -- The Randolph County Commission has placed a proposed resolution regarding "an animal control facility" on the agenda for Thursday's regular commission meeting.
Randolph County Humane Society officials and volunteers became upset in late February about a Randolph County Commission social media post saying the county was considering creating and operating its own animal control shelter.
The following post was made to the Randolph County Commission Facebook page in late February:
"The Randolph County Commission is excited to announce that it will explore the possibility of constructing a county-owned and operated animal control facility for the first time in county history.
"Construction will be made possible by use of the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund money that the county has already received in part from the federal government; this construction will not be funded using county tax dollars," the post continued.
"The Commission is dedicated to maintaining the safety of all county residents and believes that this project will further that mission by ensuring that no animal will be denied shelter. We are currently taking an inventory of all vacant county-owned property in order to determine a site for the new facility."
For the past 10 years, the Randolph County Commission has provided $80,000 per year in funding to the Humane Society. In a social media post, Tina Vial, a member of the Humane Society's Board of Directors, said she and other officials met with County Commissioners Cris Siler and David Kesling on Feb. 21 and presented a request for an increase in annual funding to $90,000.
She said the commission posted the animal control facility social media post immediately after the meeting.
Siler then told The Inter-Mountain, "I just felt we need our own facility, that is owned and run and controlled by the county."
Siler said all three commissioners agreed that "this will definitely not be a kill shelter."
Humane Society representatives attended the March 2 county commission meeting, but by rule were not allowed to speak about the animal control facility issue because it was not on that meeting's agenda.
The animal control facility issue is listed on the agenda for Thursday's meeting, set for 1:30 p.m. at the James F. Cain Courthouse Annex. The meeting is open to the public.
Also on the agenda are a pair of informational presentations. The first information presentation on the agenda will be from the Randolph-Tucker Children's Advocacy Center. The second presenter will be from the John Ballentyne Youth Golf Association.
The Elkins Energy Youth Basketball league and the Beverly Heritage Center will both come before the commission with funding requests, and the commission will consider approval of proposed budget for the fiscal year 2021.
Three new county hires for the county will be proposed, while the commission will seek approval of submission for the 2023-2024 VOCA (Victims of Crime) Grant. The commission will also consider approval of a new purchasing policy for Randolph County vehicles.
There are two items on the agenda having to do with the Randolph County Sheriff's Office. The first will be to consider approval of a vehicle purchase for the department. The second is the approval of a quote to replace the flooring in the law enforcement office.
Two items on the agenda will have to do with the pool/splash pad project at the Elks Lodge. The commission will consider approval of pay application No. 7 for the $2,163,372 million project, and will seek to approve the mural and designs for the facility.
Commission President Dave Kesling said at a previous meeting that the new pool/splash pad will open on April 28, and that the commission and the Elks were planning an official celebration for the pool's grand opening.
The commission has also proposed the signing of three letters of support during the meeting, with the first being for the Elkins-Randolph County Library.
The Elkins-Randolph County Library recently finalized proposed plans for a new expansion. The cost of the construction/expansion is projected to be in the neighborhood of $3.5 to $4 million.
The other two regard the Norton Harding Jimtown Public Service District and Corridor H.
The commission will also consider approval of a resolution to request congressionally directed spending.
At the conclusion of the meeting on Thursday afternoon, the commissioners will make their way to Glenmore to take part in the Midland Public Service District's groundbreaking ceremony for its new shop and office complex project.