KINGWOOD – Due to the ongoing pandemic, town halls in Preston County either continue to be closed to the public or have put other mandates in place for safety reasons.
At a Monday evening meeting of the Reedsville Council, Councilwoman Renee Stone argued in favor of the town’s two clerks returning to work at town hall. Stone based her argument on the fact the schools were once again open.
Reedsville’s town clerks have been working from home due to the increase in COVID cases in the county. They will continue to work from home for the next two weeks and then return to town hall on rotating shifts.
A clerk currently works in the office from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays. Customers are required to wear masks when doing business.
Reedsville is not the only town whose clerks are working either at home or working limited hours due to the pandemic.
Newburg Mayor Edgar Fortney said water clerk Janet Adams is at town hall from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. He said customers are required to wear masks when paying water bills in person.
Fortney said there is a drop box at the senior center where water payments can be dropped off. He said water bills can also be paid on line.
Employees are “working behind closed doors,” JoAnn Galusky, water clerk for the town of Masontown, said.
She said customers are only allowed in the office for emergencies or if they are new customers who need to fill out paperwork for water service.
Galusky said town hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays only. The water works is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
Mayor Roxie Turner said she believes this arrangement is necessary due to COVID.
“I don’t want to get it and I don’t want any of the people who work here to get it,” she said.
Turner said customers can call 304-698-5561 for information.
“Either JoAnn or Donna Montgomery will be here to tell them what to do,” she said.
Doors at the Rowlesburg Town Hall is are locked. Customers can call the number posted on the door between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday to conduct business.
Two towns, Tunnelton and Albright are open regular business hours.
Tunnelton town hall is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Masks are required.
Albright town hall is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Masks are required.
A drop box is available for those who do not want to go inside to pay a water bill.
Bruceton Mills and Brandonville did not respond in time for this report.
TWEET@DominionPostWV
