WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commission announced Tuesday plans for a slaughterhouse in the McKim’s Ridge area of Colliers have been dropped.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said he learned through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that West Virginia Farm Foods has rescinded its application for a $4 million grant to design, build and operate the facility.

According to the business’ website, the facility was expected to process cattle from nearly 7,000 farms across three Northern West Virginia regions.

Thomas said he discovered recently the West Virginia Secretary of State’s registry of businesses in the Mountain State indicates the business’ status as a limited liability company has been terminated.

He said prior to that, Doug and Darla Velegol, the company’s owners, contacted him to say they determined the project wasn’t feasible.

Thomas said through his investigation of the matter, he found no letters of support from local government entities had been submitted with the grant application.

Last week, he said the commission had been completely unaware of the project until very recently.

News of it had led the commission to call a public forum on the project for its Dec. 3 meeting.

Thomas had invited comment for or against it and questions about the facility while acknowledging it was likely to spur concerns about public health and its impact on the market value of nearby properties.

On Tuesday, Thomas said he doesn’t believe the forum will be necessary.

But he said he would like to revive the county planning commission to play a role in any future development.

Many years ago, the planning commission had considered zoning, which has been used by many cities to regulate industries and other businesses to certain areas, but the idea wasn’t taken up.

Thomas was asked if zoning could be considered by the county commission in the future.

“I think zoning is a goal. It’s my goal,” he said, while adding he is one of three voices on the commission.

The commission also has a comprehensive plan that suggests areas where development may occur but only as recommendations.

Thomas said the commission has the power to adopt an ordinance addressing businesses it feels affect public health or safety or present a public nuisance to the community.

The grant that had been awarded to West Virginia Farm Foods had been through the U.S. Department of Interior’s Abandoned Mine Lands Economic Revitalization program.

The program provides funds for the re-purposing of formerly mined property for various economic development projects.

West Virginia Farm Foods had announced plans to use all portions of the animals’ carcasses, with some of it serving as fuel for biogas digesters used to power the facility.

Also on Tuesday, the commission allocated about $42,022 awarded to Brooke County from the state’s latest round of funding for local fire departments to the 10 departments serving the county.

To be divided in equal portions, the money will go to the following departments: Bethany, Beech Bottom, Colliers, Follansbee, Franklin Community, which is on Washington Pike; Hooverson Heights, Wellsburg, Windsor Heights, McKinleyville and Weirton.

County Commissioner Tom Diserio noted the funds are to be used for equipment and training.

Last year state legislators agreed to allocate about $12 million from excess lottery funds to counties throughout the state based on population and local levies serving the departments.

For the purpose of monitoring the funds, the commission has asked each department to submit requests for their portions of it.

On Tuesday, the McKinleyville Fire Department asked to use about $3,623 from the first allocation and $4,202 from the second allocation to purchase four sets of turnout gear, including flame retardant coats and pants.

In other business:

�–� The commission appointed Tim Ennis, former West Virginia state delegate and Brooke County commissioner, to serve with Duane Heck on the West Virginia Route 2 and Interstate 68 Authority.

The volunteer board was formed by the state legislature to recommend and promote areas of the two highways for expansion and is comprised of two representatives from each of the 10 counties through which they run.

The commissioners also made plans in December to interview applicants for four seats on Brooke Hills Park board.

�–� It was announced the county courthouse and other county offices will close at 1 p.m. today and remain closed through Friday for Thanksgiving.