By Gary Lee Stuber
The Clay County Commission met for the first regular meeting of January on Monday, Jan. 12. All three commissioners: David Schoolcraft, Duane Legg, and President Joyce Johnson were in attendance. Shelia Stone, Clay County Clerk, was present as recorder.
The first order of business was routine county business: Clay PSD Minutes and Financial Report, minutes from the previous commission meeting, bills, purchase orders, budget revisions, erroneous assessments as presented by the Assessor, fiduciary appointments as presented by the County Clerk. These include appointmentsof administratrix for estates, last wills and testaments, affidavits, and waivers of final settlements.
The commission gave permission to the Assessor to make corrections to the 2026 Land and Personal Property Books.
As far as hiring, the County Clerk requested that Audrey Thoman and Kayla Samples be placed as part time hourly employees. The commission approved it. They also approved Sheriff King’s request that Allyson Goebel be hired part time. His request that Crystal Newell, Kaitlyn Preast, and Teresa Gill also be hired part time was tabled.
Terry Martin gave a number of financial updates. The Big Otter Nebo Waterline Extension Resolution is 70% complete and should be finished in May. The Grassy Fork Waterline Extension Resolution is 90% designed and they are presently working on easements and agreements. The Ossia Road Waterline Extension is currently in new grant application status for a HUD Community Development Block Grant. The Clay County Judicial Annex continues to enter its final phase, and there was no additional news on the update of the Clay County 911 Congressional Directed Spending fund as there still is no federal budget awaiting approval. And finally, Terry introduced Sebrena Williamson as part of the Regional Council Staff.
The commission approved the distribution of the State of West Virginia’s Fund #41 equally to all Clay County Fire Departments. $4,490.62 to each department. Clay Volunteer Fire Department, Big Otter Volunteer Fire Department, and Lizemore Volunteer Fire Department. They can use the funds as they feel directed.
The commission hired a second janitor for the courthouse and annex: Evan Salisbury who will start January 20. They approved the hiring of Patsy Townsend as a driver for Clay County Ambulance Service.
And finally, the commission approved the recommendation of the County Landmarks Commission to accept the letter of interest from the Mills Group as the Architect and Engineers for the restoration of the Historic Clay County Courthouse.
The next regular commission meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 26.
