BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Tuesday’s regular session meeting of the Raleigh County Commission tackled an array of topics in quick succession.
These included planned upcoming projects, new employees of the county, allocation of county funds, and more.
Early on the session touch upon bids for an upcoming planned retirement luncheon which will take place on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022.
Two bids were submitted for the catering of the event.
The first bid, from Black Knight Catering Service, totaled $7,200, while Georges’ Taps and Italian Grill issued a second bid of $5,750.
These bids were provided to County Administrator Jay Quesenberry for the determination of a recommendation.
There was some discussion of what the menus for each of these bids entailed, with Commission President Dave Tolliver reciting an itemized list of the proposed Black Knight menu for the event.
Menu items included turkey, dressing, glazed ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, sweet corn, tossed salad, roll, butter, two dessert choices, drink (water, soda, coffee, tea) for a subtotal of $6,000, with an additional $1,200 for serving staff and gratuity.
The specifics of the second bid were not discussed in as meticulous detail during the meeting.
Quesenberry did return with his recommendation by the session’s end, stating,
”I’ve compared the two – Georges’ Taps and Italian Grill and Black Knight Country Club. They’re equal, and the low bidder would be Georges’ Taps and Italian Grill for $5,750, so I would recommend them for the luncheon.”
Georges’ Taps and Italian Grill was approved as to cater the event on the recommendation of Mr. Quesenberry.
New employment for the Raleigh County Commission maintenance Department was also addressed, with Isaiah S. Bowman being welcomed aboard for a position with the courthouse, which will compound experience already accrued with the county parks department.
Per Mr. Michaels who spoke during the session, Bowman will “fill a maintenance position over at the courthouse. He’s passed all his drug tests and background checks. He’s got some prior service with Ms. Molly and the Raleigh County Parks Association, and he’s also got some construction experience. So we’re excited to have him.”
The motion to approve Bowman’s employment passed through the commission.
“Good to have you, young man,” Tolliver proclaimed.
Courtney Neese called into the session to enact the first public meeting for the CDBG funded Rhodell sewer project.
“The is a public meeting – we have to have two in order to meet the criteria demanded by CDBG, which stands for Community Development Block Grant,” Neese said.
”This will be for Rhodell Sewer, this is going to be a lengthy project. The sewer is actually going to be expanded to several customers that don’t currently have services.”
While a specific cost estimate for the project is not yet available at this time, Neese reveals that the funding needed will be in excess of $7 million.
”I’m waiting on an updated cost estimate but it’s going to be over $7 million,” she continued. “This grant that we are trying to get will be written for $2 million for infrastructure. There is no match for this grant and that’s really all the details that I have at this time. When we have our second public meeting I’ll have a lot more information from the engineer that I can share.”
With no questions about the grant process or application posed, as well as no comments on the affair, the first public hearing for the Rhodell Sewer was brought to a close by Commission President Dave Tolliver.
The next public meeting addressing the sewer project is anticipated to occur “next month sometime,” and a call will reportedlbe made to set that up. If next month doesn’t work we can do it in January.
“We had a meeting last week at Crab Orchard Public Service District and there [were] 25 people there all the way from Indian Chiefs to the EPA DEP Philadelphia HUD,” said Tolliver of a recent meeting. “We’ll see if it does any good.”
The October COSSAP report also saw discussion during the session, with County Administrator Jay Quesenberry presenting.
”This is for the Combined Opioid Stimulant Substance Abuse Program,” he began.
”We’ve received money to hire peer recovery support specialists at the Day Report Center and they monthly reimbursement request for the month of October is $4,205.91.”
The COSSAP report was approved and passed through the commission, and proceedings moved to the approval of a new street and five new addresses in the Glen Daniel area.
The street, Fernandez Lane, along with the five addresses, 109 Fernandez Lane; 113 Fernandez Lane; 117 Fernandez Lane; 125 Fernandez Lane; and 129 Fernandez Lane, was approved and passes.
Finally, the session saw the reappointment of a number of Public Service District employees, including Hazel Burroughs to the Cool Ridge/Flat Top PSD with a term set to expire on 12/31/2028 and Joseph Long to the Cool Ridge/Flat Top PSD with a term set to expire on 12/31/2028.
Donita Marks was also approved for reappointment to the Raleigh County Housing Board with a term set to expire on 11/15/2027.
Additional LOOTPRESS county commission coverage can be found here.
