Commission conducts estate hearing
Jackson Newspapers
After a very brief meeting with a short agenda on Feb. 3, the Jackson County Commission recessed until a 10 a.m. estate hearing.
Most estate hearings are cut and dry and can be probated easily. Occasionally, one comes before the Commission that is a bit more complicated.
Because the estate of Evelynn Stanley involved a joint will in 1974 with her husband, the process becomes more convoluted. Her husband passed away in 1999 and she made a new will in 2015. The question arises from the fact that she left her estate differently than the joint will of 1974.
County Commission approves Vehicle Lease Program for Sheriff’s Department
Suzette Lowe
Reporter
Sheriff Ross Mellinger presented the Jackson County Commission with a proposed change in the method of replacing police cruisers.
The Fleet Management Program would allow the sheriff’s department to enter a lease agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management rather than purchasing one cruiser per year which is the current procedure.
Funds for purchasing cruisers come from the capital project line item of $76,000 from the county budget. The remainder of the funds needed are taken from the concealed weapons permit fees.
Mellinger explained that since the West Virginia State Legislature reduced the fee for a permit from $100 to $50, the portion received by the sheriff’s department was lowered from $65 to $25. In addition, any veteran can obtain a permit at no cost.
Elected officials take office Jan. 1
By Barbara Layton
Reporter
Several officials were recently sworn in at the Jackson County Courthouse. Offices from Magistrate to Jackson County Sheriff and everything in between will be gaining new faces, and some returning, beginning on Jan. 1, 2021.
Those sworn in to the Magistrate s office include Magistrate Laura Pursley and her assistant Sarah Murray, as well as Magistrate Jackie Casto and her assistant Tamra Melhorn.
Mitch Morrison was sworn in for his second term as Jackson County Commissioner. I want to thank the voters for their confidence in me, Morrison said. I will continue to work to prove that confidence is well founded.
Bridge and Shop with a Cop issues addressed at JCC
Suzette Lowe
Reporter
Two issues were brought before the Jackson County Commission during the public comment portion of the Dec. 9 meeting.
Gary Shaffer and Travis Shaffer asked Commissioners Dick Waybright, and Mitch Morrison, with Mike Randolph attending by phone, to address a low water bridge that had been constructed years ago on Middle Fork. The bridge, which was built by a gas company, through time has become almost equal with the bank and causes the area to flood because of debris backing up.
Montana Boggess, 911 director, said numerous attempts have been made to contact the owners without success. The Commission agreed that the county’s attorney, Eric Holmes, should try to resolve the issue or find the proper agency to address it.
Commission approves Economic Development Grant Resolution
Suzette Lowe
Reporter
If a grant is approved by the West Virginia Development Office, the Jackson County Economic Development Authority (JCEDA) will receive $27,727 to promote local businesses.
Mark Whitley, JCEDA director, informed the Jackson County Commission at the Dec. 2 meeting, that marketing and business retention are two areas that the grant will help to address.
“We’ve gotten this grant for several years,” Whitley said. “It’s our hope that we will be approved again this year. We will update our website, jcda.org, continue our very successful Facebook promotions of small businesses, and recruit new businesses, while retaining those we currently have.”