Harrison County Commission approves routine items, schedules election‑contest hearing

The Harrison County Commission on June 17 approved a slate of routine administrative and finance items and set a schedule for an election‑contest hearing. Commission President (chair) opened the meeting and led commissioners through consent, payroll and invoice approvals before turning to hearings and funding requests.

The commission accepted copies of two wills for probate. Patricia Sue Wells presented a copy of a will for Pamela Schanholtz and the commission accepted the document and ordered it probated in solemn form. In a separate estate matter, Vicky, identified in the record as the power of attorney for Francis Mick, joined by Zoom; the commission similarly accepted a copy of that will and probated it.

On financial matters the commission approved requisitions and invoices as presented and approved payroll change notice "b" with an effective date of June 25, 2026. The commission also approved a $10,538.34 arbitrage rebate payment to the Internal Revenue Service tied to the White Oaks TIF bond issue; staff clarified the rebate payment will be paid from bond proceeds rather than the county general fund. "Those funds actually come out of the bonds themselves," a staff member said while explaining the arbitrage report and the need to file the IRS form.

The commission approved smaller project fund requisitions for Charles Pointe and White Oaks and set a scheduling order in a primary‑election contest filed by Laura Kimball. Commission President read the dates the commission adopted for the contest schedule: "The first one is the hearing and trial date, tentatively scheduled for 07/01/2026 at 1PM," followed by witness and exhibit disclosure deadlines on June 26 and proposed findings due July 6. Counsel for the parties, including Trey Zimmerman, Carly King and Mark Atkins, participated by phone and in the chamber and the commission approved the scheduling order and fixed signatures.

Other business included approval of several budget revisions across departments, a reappointment to the Clarksburg Harrison Library Board and a resolution to apply to the Farm Credit Virginia Charitable Contributions Fund for a $10,000 greenhouse grant for Harrison County Parks & Recreation.

The meeting concluded after a Parks & Recreation update and a brief question about the status of a Clarksburg bridge grant; the commission adjourned after a final voice vote. The commission also voted to enter and exit an executive session on attorney‑client privileged matters and took no action on that item.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (voice vote). - Payroll change notice B (effective 06/25/2026): approved (voice vote). - Requisitions/invoices (includes $10,000 arbitrage report requisition): approved (voice vote). - Arbitrage rebate payment to IRS: $10,538.34, approved (voice vote). - Charles Pointe project payment: $6,311.08, approved (voice vote). - Charles Pointe (Series 2019) requisition: $5,114, approved (voice vote). - White Oaks project No. 2 requisition: $262.50, approved (voice vote). - Special funding for Together with Veterans: $1,500 to the organization, approved (voice vote). - McKinley Architecture project management fee for courthouse sidewalk: $37,000, approved (voice vote). - Michelle Palmer reappointment to Clarksburg Harrison Library Board: approved (voice vote). - County election/clerk/tax/sheriff budget revisions: approved (voice votes). - Resolution to apply for HAVA security grant (e‑poll books): approved (voice vote).

The commission set next steps for the election contest timeline, instructed staff to prepare follow‑up fiscal reports requested during the budget discussions, and closed the meeting.