ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission approved funding requests from multiple organizations during its most recent meeting, including the Randolph County Fair, the Seneca Soccer League and 4-H Camp Pioneer.

It was the first meeting for the county commission in its new meeting room, located in the former IGA Building on Randolph Avenue, which the county is now leasing.

The funding requests were all approved on unanimous votes by Commission President David Kesling and fellow Commissioners Cris Siler and Chris See.

The Randolph County Fair will get underway on Aug. 10 and runs through Aug. 17. The commission agreed to help fund the event in the amount of $5,000. The money will be taken from the hotel-motel tax line item in the county budget.

“We had budgeted $3,000 for the Randolph County Fair this year like we do annually, but they needed a little more so we gave them an additional $2,000,” Kesling said. “They have to pay Camp Pioneer $3,300 for the rental of their facility and they will use the rest of the money we gave them for other expenses, like paying for the carnival.”

The commissioners agreed to support the Seneca Soccer League with $1,000. That money will also be taken from the hotel-motel tax line item in the county budget.

“Seneca Soccer was looking for sponsors for the upcoming fall season and we wanted to help them out,” Kesling said. “There are a lot of kids who play in that league and it gives them something viable to do during the fall. It’s a tremendous organization and we are happy to help them out.”

The county commission had already budgeted money for 4-H Camp Pioneer dating back to when it  received COVID funds. All of that money has been used, Kesling said, so they had to rebudget funds for the organization.

“When we received the COVID money, we gave them (4-H Camp Pioneer) a lump sum that would help them for like five years,” Kesling said. “We used to give them $48,000 a year for utilities, and when the COVID funds came around we gave them enough to help them with utilities for five years. It was supposed to go another year, but the utility expenses have gone up and they ran out of that money. So we are going to give them $5,000 per month and probably pay them quarterly, so $60,000 per year.”

Kesling said those in charge of 4-H Camp Pioneer will discuss how they would like to have the money distributed.

“They are going to ask the board if they want to receive the money monthly, or quarterly,” Kesling said. “So the first money we give them will be either $5,000 or $15,000. But we approved the $60,000 total per year.”

The next Randolph County Commission meeting will be on Aug. 7 at 1:30 p.m.