By Gary Lee Stuber
The Clay County Commission met in its first March regular meeting on March 9 with all commissioners in attendance. David Schoolcraft, President Joyce Johnson, and Duane Legg were all present and County Clerk Shelia Stone acted as recorder.
The County Commission typically takes care of routine county business. They approved minutes from the previous meeting, bills, purchase orders, budget revisions, erroneous assessments as presented by the Assessor, fiduciary appointments as presented by the County Clerk including appointment of administrators for estates, executors of last wills and testaments, and affidavit and waivers of final settlements.
Other annual routine business included the approval of the agreement of understanding and compliance with civil rights laws for the WVU Extension Office and their annual Memorandum of Agreement between the county and the WVU Extension Office. They approved the county’s Capital Assets Polity and Levy Estimate Budget for FY 2026-2027.
They acknowledged the WV Humanities Micro Display of the 50th Anniversary of the End of the Vietnam War which will be set up in the county courtyard for public display. The display is supposed to be geared to local interest but at the time of this announcement they were unsure if it focused on Clay County or West Virginia in general.
The meeting was to open with a representative from Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s office Todd Gunter, who was to make a major announcement regarding the E911 Center. Since he did not show, Terry Martin from West Virginia’s Regional Intergovernmental Council made the announcement to open the meeting.
“In the 2026 Federal Budget, Senator Capito, along with Justice and Miller secured $4.6 million dollars to build a new E911 Center,” Terry said, “Todd was going to make that announcement. It is going to be funded through the federal Housing and Urban Development office. They have not contacted us yet. We have to put in the application. Then we have to meet the qualifications, such as environmental and those types of things. We are probably talking six months before we start this project.”
He was confident, “We already have the contractor on board, we hired him a year and a half ago to do a rendition, so we can enter into a contract with them.”
The location, previously established is across the Dundon bridge and up on the hill near to the DOH headquarters. The project was delayed a year as there was no federal budget and federal business was done by ‘continuing resolution, in Congress. The US now has a budget, except for DHS funding, which is still being held up by democrats in the Senate.
“The next thing is the 2027 Congressional Directed Spending. There is a very tight window on applications, and we need to be thinking about projects we would want to put in applications for. There could be up to a million dollars in spending if approved. There might be a 10 day window open up the end of next week.” He asked for ideas.
Commissioner Johnson suggested getting some new fire trucks for each of the county’s volunteer fire departments. Terry suggested getting the fire chief involved in getting estimates to him.
Later on in the meeting, Terry would explain the Big Otter Nebo Waterline Extension payment, which they would approve, and they tabled the Grassy Fork Waterline payment as it was not yet invoiced. He also explained the HUD Citizen’s Participation Plan, and the HUD Fair Housing Plan for the Ossia Road Waterline Extension.
The commission hired two more employees for the E911 Center– Shilo Lippert and Brittany Stone.
April begins a number of community events. The Egg-stravaganza, an Easter Egg hunt will be sponsored for all Clay County Children at the Clay Family Resource Center across the street from the courthouse on April 4. Right now, Donna Salisbury is gathering candy and small prizes. If you can donate these, please do between now and the end of March.
Before opening the floor to those in attendance, David Schoolcraft reminded all those present that this year’s Clay County Cleanup Day would be on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until trucks are full. Multiple Waste Management trucks will be available at the lot across from Pierson Lumber Company. Please note that the workers are volunteers and you must unload your own vehicle. Accepted items include appliances that are free of trash, car and ATV batteries, air conditioners, lawn mowers, small engines that are free of fluids, furniture and mattresses, microwaves, TVs and electronics, and anything metal. This event is open to Clay County residents only. Items that are NOT allowed included propane tanks, household trash, vehicles, and contractor or business trash. Tires will be accepted at the high school with a limit of 10 tires per person. Absolutely no early drop offs.
The Clay County Health Department will offer its spring health fair on April 19. Most tests are free, and some have minimal cost, call the department before the 19th to see which tests are offered and which have costs.
The Annual Clay Beautification Clean Up will be held on April 22 and 23. This is in cooperation with local county offices and the Clay County High School. All volunteers are welcome to join in efforts to pick up trash along Clay County roads. Busses transport students and others to the sites. Bags, safety vests and even lunch will be provided. Bags will be filled and left along the roadside, and on April 24 Waste Management will pick up and discard the gathered trash. Just in time for spring events and mowing.
The next meeting of the Clay County Commission will be at 9 a.m. on March 23.
