Votes at a glance: Hampshire County Commission actions, June 24, 2025

The Hampshire County Commission voted on multiple motions at its June 24 meeting in Romney. Below are the substantive formal actions recorded during the session and their outcomes.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from the previous meeting: motion carried (voice votes of “Aye”).

- Certificate of deposit rollover (Sheriff): Motion to authorize the sheriff to close a CD with a balance of $21,397 at 3.50% and reopen at 4.15% for a nine‑month term — motion passed.

- REAP (recycling) grant application: Motion authorizing President Eglanger to sign the county’s application for a 2026 REAP (recycling assistance) grant in the amount of $150,000 — motion passed.

- Hiring: Motion to approve the hiring of Ricky Lang as Hampshire County recycling manager, full‑time start date 2025‑07‑10 — motion passed.

- Interim animal shelter director and advertisement window: Motion to appoint Crystal Connolly (interim) as acting animal shelter director and to continue advertising the permanent director position for an additional three to four weeks — motion and amendment passed.

- Salary increase: Motion accepting the Planning Commission’s recommendation to increase Rebecca Lewis’s hourly pay (effective July 10) — motion passed.

- CDBG paperwork and related signatures: Clerk reported required signatures for a Community Development Block Grant (health department project); no further action was required because the commission had previously approved the project.

- Nursing home/health center due‑diligence motion: Motion to commission a commercial appraisal, investigate BGI investment options for proceeds, and confirm sale process with outside counsel — motion passed (see separate article for details).

- Chamber of Commerce request: Motion to authorize a county contribution of $2,500 to support the newly reestablished Hampshire County Chamber of Commerce launch (conditional on legal receipt/authorization) — motion passed; commissioners requested future reporting from the chamber on use of funds.

- Capon Bridge EMS building deed: Motion to send a letter to the volunteer entity (Capon Bridge Volunteer Rescue Squad) to arrange execution of a deed change for the Capon Bridge rescue/EMS building — motion passed. Commissioner Mance abstained due to a conflict of interest related to his employment in Capon Bridge.

- Probate orders and fiduciary appointments: Motion to approve probate orders, fiduciary appointments, qualifications and bonds presented since the last meeting — motion passed.

- Planning commission ordinance adoption: Motion to adopt the updated Hampshire County Planning Commission ordinance (updates to bring commission procedures in line with state code, including expanding the planning commission to 11 members) — motion passed.

- Comprehensive plan proposal (WVU Land Use & Sustainable Development Clinic): Commissioners discussed a proposed comprehensive plan contract (base price:$20,000; optional add‑ons:$8,000). Commissioners requested the full Planning Commission weigh in; no county funds were authorized at the June 24 meeting.

- Board appointments and reappointments (motions and outcomes): - Hampshire County Public Library Board: reappointed Julie Frazier — passed. - Hampshire County Building Commission: reappointed Joe Millison to one of three open seats — passed. - Hampshire County Historic Landmarks Commission: reappointed Eileen Johnson and Jean Shoemaker — passed. - Hampshire County Parks & Recreation Board: reappointed Megan Fuller, Jim Auckhire, and Greg Renker (three‑year terms) — all passed. - Hampshire County Development Authority: reappointed Lynn McMaster, Jason Hicks, Brian Hott (three‑year terms) — all passed. - Hampshire County Planning Commission: reappointments and new appointments approved included John Hicks, Matthew Haught, Dwayne ("Pumpkin") Oates, and Ralph Ronken; Jacqueline McCartney was appointed as a new member. A separate nomination for Sherry Coleman failed for lack of a second. - Hampshire County Board of Appeals: reappointed Tim Bennett, Jack Poor and Steven Oates — passed. Two additional seats remained open pending confirmation.

- Invoices: Motion to approve invoices submitted since the last meeting — motion passed. Clerk noted a short‑term cash‑flow tightness and advised use of funds from the county MMA account until tax receipts arrive mid‑August; commissioners were informed no penalties apply for that use.

Public comment and presentations

- Romney Community Pool Project: Volunteers reported nonprofit status and about $700,000 raised toward a $1.1 million phase‑one pool design (conceptual Thrasher Engineering plan). The pool committee requested advice and said it would return with an August presentation. Commissioners expressed support and suggested scheduling the group for an upcoming meeting.

Procedural notes

- Several motions were voice votes recorded as “Aye;” where the transcript recorded an abstention (Capon Bridge deed), that abstention is noted above. For many routine approvals (minutes, reappointments, invoice approvals), votes were recorded by voice with no named roll‑call in the transcript.

If any reader needs a citation to the transcript segment for a specific vote listed above, the commission’s June 24 meeting audio and transcript provide timecode markers for each item.