The masks came off during Wednesday’s Monongalia County Commission meeting — literally.
All three commissioners removed their masks a couple minutes into the session, following a policy update announcement from Commission President Sean Sikora.
Going forward, individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 — be they members of the public or county employees — can enter county facilities without facial coverings.
“We only ask that individuals who aren’t vaccinated or can’t be vaccinated continue to wear the masks,” Sikora said, noting individual office holders will have the discretion to keep more restrictive policies in place.
“We ask people to please respect everybody else’s choices that they make, one way or another, whether they choose to wear a mask or not,” he said.
In other county news, the commission learned the replacement of a new communications tower on Catherine’s Knob, in the Daybrook area, has been delayed.
“Best guess we were given is probably August at this point now,” MECCA Director Jim Smith said, explaining that manufacturing delays largely tied to COVID-19 have impacted multiple aspects of the project.
The former tower, which was used by emergency services as well as US Cellular, was brought down on Nov. 16. Since then, US Cellular customers in the area have experienced poor service.
Sikora noted that even if the tower was ready to go up, the county has heard nothing from US Cellular regarding plans to place equipment on the new structure.
The commission said it will reach out to the cellular provider to that end.
“They need to be preparing to be back on the site and not wait until we have the tower and then get to that point,” Sikora said.
The commission approved a $561,655.50 proposal from Premier Construction Group for the purchase and construction of a 340-foot freestanding tower in November.
At the time, completion of the project was anticipated by mid-February.
Also on Wednesday, the commission filled two new positions, hiring JR Petsko as the county’s new director of parks and Rachel Mitchell as venue manager for the Mon County Extension Services and 4-H Center.
Petsko has served as the superintendent of Mason-Dixon Historical Park since September 2016.
He will continue to have a role at the park, though an assistant superintendent will be hired to handle day-to-day operations.
Petsko was selected from a pool of 21 applicants and will earn $50,000 annually in the new position, which will serve as the point person for the county’s three-park system.
The commission touted Petsko’s efforts in rebranding MDHP as a motivating factor for the promotion, noting many county residents remain largely unaware of what the county’s parks have to offer.
“I really hope to make it one of the best park systems in the state. Being one of the best communities in the state, there’s no reason we shouldn’t have the best park system in the state as well,” Petsko said.
Mitchell was selected from among 15 applicants. She previously worked for the county as superintendent of MDHP before moving over to Camp Muffly, and ultimately to Marion County, where she’s served as the assistant director for the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission.
She’ll earn $47,000 annually to market and manage the county’s newest facility, which is located in Mylan Park.
Lastly, the commission approved $5,000 for MUB’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day, to be held Aug. 7.
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