Buckhannon waives flood-restoration permit fees
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BUCKHANNON – Buckhannon City Council on Thursday approved a measure to waive all building and wiring permit fees for verified flood‑related repair and restoration work within city limits, following last week’s deadly flooding in Upshur County.
Officials said the move is "part of the City's ongoing effort to support residents and businesses recovering from the recent catastrophic flooding. Under the approved policy, permits will still be required, ensuring that all work meets safety and code standards.
"However, any project determined to be directly related to flood damage will receive a full fee waiver, eliminating financial barriers for homeowners and business owners working to restore their properties."
City Building Code Enforcement Officer Vincent Smith will conduct inspections to confirm that each project qualifies as flood‑related recovery work, and to ensure that "fee waivers are applied fairly and consistently while maintaining the integrity of the City's building oversight," a city release stated.
The motion to approve the waiver was made by City Recorder Randy Sanders, seconded by Councilmember Jack Reger, and was passed unanimously.
Debris removal continues in Upshur County, with a combined approximately 120 loads of debris hauled Wednesday by the West Virginia National Guard, the West Virginia Department of Highways, City of Buckhannon crews, and private contractors.
Gov. Patrick Morrisey and Major General James "Jim" Seward, Adjutant General of the West Virginia Army National Guard, visited Upshur County's temporary dump site late Wednesday afternoon, meeting with state, county, and city officials to observe the debris‑removal operations.
"City of Buckhannon Public Works has dedicated all available personnel and equipment to debris removal, pausing all non‑essential projects," a city press release states. "Debris is being transported to the temporary dump site and then hauled to Meadowfill in Bridgeport."
Buckhannon and Upshur County officials reported Thursday that the West Virginia Wesleyan College donation center continues to operate with strong inventory levels. "Despite circulating rumors, Upshur County is NOT out of supplies," the release states.
Officials are currently discussioning when to close the coordinated distribution site and transition to off‑site pickup centers throughout the county, according to the release.
Items still greatly needed at the site, officials said, include shop vacuums, box fans, dehumidifiers, trash bags, and shovels, brooms and mops.
Morrisey on Wednesday emphasized the importance of all residents affected by the flooding completing the West Virginia Emergency Management Division's damage survey. More than 1,110 surveys have already been submitted, the Upshur County Department of Homeland Security & Emergency Management reported.
The survey can be accessed online at https://arcg.is/0LLOOG.