KINGWOOD, W.Va. (WV News) — Preston County commissioners dealt with a light agenda in preparation for the vote canvassing of the 2024 November General Election.
Commissioners heard several updates and a request for a contribution to the 1939 Rowlesburg Wall.
Commissioners approved a $2,000 contribution for the 1939 Depression Era Works Progress Administration wall in Rowlesburg.
Community member Charles Felton initially requested help from the commission to help repair the wall at a previous meeting.
The handrails for the walkway by the wall had been corrected, but the face of it was never repaired, Felton said.
Now that tourism continues to grow in the town with the resident Airbnbs and campground, the town would like to see some revitalization, he said.
Funds for that contribution would be taken out of the Hotel/Motel line 001-913-568, Raybeck said. “That specific item is only for beautification.”
Also at the meeting:
— Commissioners discussed the deed for Wade’s World of Wonder playground and requested that Preston County Prosecutor Jay Shay look into rescinding the deed.
The land was deeded to Wade’s World of Wonder for the construction of the new playground, Commissioner Samantha Stone said.
However, the nonprofit had decided to change the location of the playground due to the soil grade the property had, officials said.
“The excavation work was going to cost a lot,” she said.
The deed must be rescinded back into the county’s ownership since it will no longer be used, officials said.
— The bullet proof doors for the courthouse reconfiguration project have finally been delivered and are scheduled to be installed on Thursday, Administrator Nathan Raybeck said.
— The open sewer drains in the basement of the Sheriff’s Office have been professionally capped off, Commissioner Hunter Thomas said.
— Approved a letter of support for Public Service District #4 for the Five Generator Project Budget Revision letter.
To prepare for the canvassing, commissioners selected precinct 27 (Rowlesburg) randomly during the regular commission meeting, Raybeck said.
Sheriff Jim Fields was selected to draw the precinct at random, officials said.
Additionally, commissioners recertified that the board of canvassers would take place following the meeting at 11 a.m. at the Preston County Election center at the Kingwood Shopping plaza, Raybeck said.
During the vote canvassing, officials manually counted all the votes from the chosen precinct to make sure that they matched the tabulated results, officials said.
The votes were declared to be accurate and within a certain percentage match, officials said.
The votes will be on the next county commission agenda to officially be certified, Commission President Don Smith said.