[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6262604,"mediaKeyId","3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3","parentId",3114669,"title","Labor leaders urge county to prioritize worker safety ahead of Workers Memorial Day","audioSeconds",233,"startMs",1065000,"endMs",1298000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3&start=1065&end=1298","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3/thumbnail_1065000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262604/Berkeley-County/West-Virginia/Labor-leaders-urge-county-to-prioritize-worker-safety-ahead-of-Workers-Memorial-Day","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262604-769ca20198c3fa6dde6f45ef3ba00d98/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=Uw9TX0B4EEI9p9Tx3315-diCYRHrwzQmhnT49ld7sfOVVWEKipdC39swxDBQZdK1ev~zxGxBSlCzmkwiXBRyXs3o2qvq1zkYIAafN0Hed7z6QXzAslmmSXhs5Qj7iz3knd3RWepmz72q-hMNR1MAysBTTWMwVvn12nrfPlKW9ER0o58R~LGR7rO82Wbyz8-u6BJl3x3L2abeXOLMX~lXMlNdknM6sJCKp-EQ~Ppl~V-n8RFPWmheXPvhwX93mLz49PvvzbEfCtoG2xwrQXkpFo9-oDNGT5YjkA2SzMkl0CLP-czIRwXzXLNLMk8JIV-HQvzvbdPv7dIstmjfMyGzcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-21T22:16:53Z","article","John Christiansen, president of the Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council, addressed the Berkeley County Commission to mark the run‑up to Workers Memorial Day on April 28 and urged local government leaders to prioritize workplace safety.

Christiansen told commissioners that a worker dies in the United States every 99 minutes and said West Virginia has one of the highest workplace fatality rates in the country. He said state and local government employees have a higher fatality rate than private sector workers in West Virginia and highlighted transportation incidents and construction as leading causes of workplace deaths.

“These aren't just numbers. These are people,” Christiansen said, adding that recent staffing and policy shifts at federal agencies tasked with workplace safety increase the need for local action. He urged the commission to enforce industry best practices, provide appropriate equipment and training and to cultivate a culture where safety is expected. Christiansen asked the commission to treat the day as “a call to action so that future generations will remember Martinsburg not just as a place where the labor movement began, but as a place where it continues to thrive.”

Commission members thanked Christiansen for raising awareness and briefly observed a moment of silence for workers killed on the job. No formal county action or policy change was proposed during the meeting; Christiansen's remarks were entered into the public record during the public‑comment portion of the meeting.

Ending: Christiansen requested action beyond remembrance and asked local officials to lead on worker safety where federal support is reduced; commissioners expressed appreciation and recognized recent local workplace fatalities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Berkeley County Commission Meeting 4/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","John Christiansen of the Eastern Panhandle Central Labor Council asked the Berkeley County Commission to take local action on workplace safety, citing high state fatality rates and cuts to federal workplace safety resources.","taxTitle","Berkeley County, West Virginia","taxId",58957,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6262609,"Resident warns county growth is straining local hospitals, urges slowdown",529,517000,1046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3&start=517&end=1046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3/thumbnail_517000.jpg","/articles/6262609/Berkeley-County/West-Virginia/Resident-warns-county-growth-is-straining-local-hospitals-urges-slowdown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262609-3ead490e4ecb084aeec26a7319eae850/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=oQXp07jnQql6sAcKPzEKGyz6OitLvYgl8DsGC5nSEDUuZo6i6y1IlAUBNIhPN02aphFw1OXR0ApMIb5hPI4HPPzz--pmD78OebK6hm-uZAA55nacgY53d4mHZpfxCf7DAq-ukyCjrTY7ywFOs5lWD2V7iGsUaW2lahX9Icrkp0dmaTVcMSQHgVlR-PDTLhorvm6JBAZtUEypPL2X2SzEiJA7PTiKiRtFLzX5saGHbBuRPCpg-iJ5eXY-NM93eSHx4yjWMxFrn7lRXYk2q3Uf0cyXuBo04aEHsKXMBCgRSLbQkhDj5f8OsZCDDKmhz9rRz62gn-c3c59g-cNB5fvtxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","John A. Kidwell, a Martinsburg resident, told the Berkeley County Commission during the public comment period that local hospitals were overwhelmed and that rapid residential development is stretching county services.

Kidwell said his mother‑in‑law waited two days in an emergency room before receiving a room and described hospital staff treating patients in waiting areas. “They're overwhelmed because we're building too much,” he said. Kidwell also described stressed school systems and road capacity in parts of the county and urged commissioners to “slow it down a little bit” on approving new developments.

Commission members responded in the meeting by clarifying the limits of county authority over some issues Kidwell raised. A commissioner noted that the county “has no authority over WVU East,” and that some matters, including state road control and certain healthcare investments, fall under state agencies or private entities. The commissioner also said a $260 million investment in WVU East had been announced that week but would take two to three years to complete.

Kidwell raised water‑supply concerns specific to Ridge Road and said promised infrastructure work had not yet produced a water tower at that site; a commissioner replied the county recently accepted a bid for a new tower on Ridge Road that staff expect will resolve pressure problems in the area.

Kidwell identified his home address on the record and said he planned to return to future meetings to follow up. The comments occurred during the meeting's public‑comment segment and did not result in an immediate formal action by the commission.

Ending: Commissioners directed some questions to state representatives and county staff about the jurisdictional limits related to roads, water and hospital investments, and staff indicated infrastructure bids were in process for at least one local water tower.","A Martinsburg-area resident told the Berkeley County Commission overcrowding at WVU East and local hospitals has led to extended ER waits and strained schools and roads, and urged the commission to slow residential development.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6262612,"Berkeley County Commission approves $1.58 million state budget revision, reappoints development authority members and accepts IT personnel recommendation",235,2275000,2510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3&start=2275&end=2510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3114669-48675b5b600b15933fe77aeff3865fc3/thumbnail_2275000.jpg","/articles/6262612/Berkeley-County/West-Virginia/Berkeley-County-Commission-approves-158-million-state-budget-revision-reappoints-development-authority-members-and-accepts-IT-personnel-recommendation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262612-a34fff292714b91b1af36b39fe653ec4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442786&Signature=cc1lb7u-C5Xi60ayukRAB6sOp6T7yx5DLNpuePmrYTV13FYseNVg3qH~TXOADGRGkD8CABCD79MgH1tzGVS~8kQNWbg5pZQsMlrfYT1d9RfgaZCCYkw4diew3e68sl9sFzri5ZzWeCLKe1hfsg-dRT28u3Om8o1kSOm3sYGYRdKDjKlE18XcnJ2UOlr9dvrn2MUZVygfzHTcbBznrw~Gl4g7BW9i~Lm6BbWTDSrFoql4kLQvyIRnxPBfC9b8hIk0KlEskdqyLGNZXOCSI0~OhcGsF2Pgtm9KVgXz0UQugYWj1sVWdU6b2ZuWCLwtJQhrzl4Ywj~045t40yoUFakZdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berkeley County Commission on Monday approved a state budget revision reallocating $1,579,566 to cover end‑of‑year account adjustments and previously authorized fire and jail costs, reappointed two members to the county development authority and accepted an IT department request to terminate an employee following executive session.

The budget revision—described to the commission by Gary Wine, county staff—moves $1,579,566 among multiple accounts, including $800,000 to regional jail costs, $369,350 to fire department funding and $479,568 to the day report center. Wine told the commission the funds include previous transfers from the county opioid fund into general revenue and said the revision is a year‑end rebalancing of accounts.

Commission staff presented the reappointments of Amy Orndorff and Margie Bartels to the Berkeley County Development Authority; the commission approved both reappointments. After a scheduled executive session that covered personnel and legal matters, the commission voted to accept an IT request to terminate the employment of Nathaniel Robbins.

Votes at a glance:
- April 17, 2025 minutes — Approved (two commissioners abstained: Commissioner Catlett and Commissioner Boyd).
- Consent agenda — Approved (included grant application and requests noted on the consent agenda).
- State budget revision No. 8 — Approved. Total reallocation: $1,579,566. Major line items cited by staff: $800,000 to regional jail (account 704); $369,350 to fire department (account 711); $479,568 to day report center (account 731); other transfers to prosecuting attorney, custodial, IT and health programs. Presenter: Gary Wine, county staff.
- Reappointments to the Development Authority — Amy Orndorff and Margie Bartels — Approved.
- Personnel action following executive session — Motion accepted to terminate the employment of Nathaniel Robbins (IT) — Approved.

County staff said the budget revision is intended to “straighten up” and rebalance accounts for the fiscal year, noting prior internal transfers were the source of many of these adjustments. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about funding sources and timing before the vote. The motion to approve the budget revision was moved and seconded; the commission recorded the motion as carried with the customary voice vote, “Ayes have it.”

The commission did not provide a roll‑call tally in the public minutes for each motion beyond the abstentions noted on the April 17 minutes. No additional ordinance language or statutory citations were referenced during the budget presentation.

The commission recessed after taking the listed actions and scheduled follow‑up items including interviews and routine administrative business.","At its May meeting the Berkeley County Commission approved a state budget revision reallocating $1,579,566 across county accounts, reappointed two members to the development authority and approved a post‑executive‑session personnel action to end one IT employee's employment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Labor leaders urge county to prioritize worker safety ahead of Workers Memorial Day

Resident warns county growth is straining local hospitals, urges slowdown

Berkeley County Commission approves $1.58 million state budget revision, reappoints development authority members and accepts IT personnel recommendation