Hancock Commission organizes for the year
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NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock County Commission, meeting Thursday for the first time in 2023, reorganized for the new year, while also continuing to table a proposed tax agreement for a company which recently announced plans to locate in the area.
As part of establishing itself for the year, Commissioner Jeff Davis was nominated and approved to serve as the commission's president, with Commissioner Eron Chek approved as president pro tempore.
"It looks to be an exciting year," Davis said.
The commission also approved a listing of personnel and committee appointments for the year. Among those appointments, Davis will represent the commission on the WVU Hancock County Extension Services, Hancock County 4-H Foundation and Workforce Investment Board. Chek will serve on the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission Executive Board, Healthways Board, and the Hancock County Sheltered Workshop Board. Commissioner Paul Cowey will hold seats on the boards for the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle and the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau. All three commissioners will serve on the Brooke-Hancock Planning and Development Council.
In addition, county Emergency Management Director Jeremy Ober will be on the WV 911 Council and the county 911 Advisory Board; residents Carol Rosenlieb and Kathy White were approved for the Home Consortium, and resident Tom Ogden was approved for the Criminal Justice Board.
It was noted there are vacancies to be filled by the commission on the Hancock County Health Board, Hancock County Parks and Recreation, the RC&D Council, the Greater Weirton Senior Center Board and one vacancy remaining on the Home Consortium.
A proposed payment in lieu of taxes agreement remained tabled Thursday, as Cowey noted the commission was still waiting for some information.
According to information provided during Thursday's meeting, the possible PILOT agreement would involve "Project Willow," which was the code name used for Form Energy, a battery manufacturing company which recently announced its plans to locate a manufacturing facility in Weirton and create 750 jobs.
Mike Lucas, the commission's legal counsel, advised as the agreement had been tabled previously, it would have to be addressed at the next meeting as an item can only be tabled twice.
"Next time, you will have to take some form of action," he said.
In other business, the commission approved the 2023 Board of Equalization dates, for 9-11 a.m., Feb. 1 by appointment only; 9-11 a.m., Feb. 3 open session; 9-11 a.m., Feb. 9, appointment only; and 9-11 a.m., Feb. 15, final statement.
The commission also set its meeting schedule for the year, and approved holiday closings; approved a request to apply for a 2023 West Virginia Department of Agriculture Spay/Neuter Grant; approved a proclamation declaring January as Human Trafficking and Stalking Awareness Month; approved mileage rates for county employees; and approved an internal budget revision.
Davis also took a moment to remember the life of Bill Kiefer, a local attorney who had been a member of the Tomlinson Public Service District, as well as many other boards and commissions in the area. Kiefer died Dec. 15.