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Cabell County Commission approves levy estimate, funds senior services and smoke-alarm program
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Summary
At its March 26 meeting the Cabell County Commission unanimously approved the 2026–2027 levy estimate budget, authorized $150,000 in additional senior funding and $5,000 for an American Red Cross smoke-alarm program, approved employment actions, and signed multiple letters requesting federal support for local projects.
The Cabell County Commission met Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Huntington and unanimously approved a slate of routine agenda items, including the county’s 2026–2027 levy estimate budget and several funding and personnel actions.
President Liza Caldwell called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Commissioner John Mandt Jr. moved to approve the agenda and the minutes from the March 12 regular meeting; Commissioner Kelli Sobonya seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. The commission then approved purchase orders and monthly payment items, including handwritten checks to Unum ($12,952.72) and Guardian ($22,850.96).
The commission read and approved a proclamation recognizing Fair Housing Month; Commissioner Mandt Jr. read the proclamation to the body. The commission also approved $150,000 in additional senior funding listed as “CCCSO” and authorized a $5,000 allocation to the American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” smoke-alarm initiative. Commissioners approved reappointments to the Cabell County Historic Landmarks Commission (Liza Caldwell, Chad Nelson, Edward Tucker and Christine Bailey).
The board authorized advertising a request for proposals for demolition services for two properties at 1161 and 1175 Norway Ave., Huntington. It also approved multiple letters requesting federal support or congressional appropriations for local projects, including a FY27 Community Project Funding request for CCERC-911 (Next Generation 911), requests supporting Huntington Police Department projects sent to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and others, a request for Green Acres Regional Center, and a Congressionally Directed Spending request supporting a dedicated pediatric emergency department at Hoops Family Children’s Hospital through Marshall Health Network.
Assistant County Administrator Charles Walker explained the county’s General Fund and Coal Severance Fund levy estimate budget for 2026–2027; the commission voted to approve the levy estimate document unanimously. The meeting record shows several personnel approvals: appointment of Amy Deal as a full-time real estate clerk; hiring and reclassification actions for paramedics and emergency medical technicians; and the approval of 2026 poll workers and early voting clerks for the May primary election as submitted by Cabell County Clerk Scott Caserta.
The commission also approved two part-time security officer hires for the sheriff’s office (Craig Harshbarger and Madeline Neale) and placed on record a set of Pea Ridge PSD documents, including meeting minutes, manager reports, and balance sheets. Commissioners noted that Comcast Xfinity high-speed internet service is now available in Ona, WV. The meeting concluded with commissioner reports and a brief announcement from President Caldwell that there are 100 days until July 4 and the county’s 250th celebrations; the commission adjourned at 10:59 a.m.
Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda, minutes, consent items, purchase orders/payments — motion: John Mandt Jr.; second: Kelli Sobonya; outcome: unanimous. - Proclamation: Fair Housing Month — moved by John Mandt Jr.; outcome: unanimous. - Additional senior funding (CCCSO) — $150,000; moved by John Mandt Jr.; outcome: unanimous. - American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” funding — $5,000; moved by Kelli Sobonya; outcome: unanimous. - Reappointments to Historic Landmarks Commission — moved by John Mandt Jr.; outcome: unanimous. - Authorize RFP for demolition services (1161 & 1175 Norway Ave.) — moved by Kelli Sobonya; outcome: unanimous. - Multiple letters requesting federal support (CCERC-911; Huntington PD projects; Green Acres; Marshall Health pediatric ED) — moved/seconded; outcome: unanimous. - Approval of 2026–2027 Levy Estimate Budget Document — moved by John Mandt Jr.; outcome: unanimous. - Employment and reclassification actions (see meeting record for full list) — moved/seconded; outcome: unanimous. - Approval of 2026 poll workers and early voting clerks for May primary — moved/seconded; outcome: unanimous. - Sheriff’s office hires (two part-time security officers) — moved/seconded; outcome: unanimous.
The meeting included no public-registered speakers. Many items were routine, approved by unanimous roll call; there were no recorded dissenting votes or contested debates during the session. The commission will carry forward the approved budget document and the advertised RFP process for demolition services; no additional public hearings were scheduled during the meeting.