MORGANTOWN — The Monongalia County Commission is exploring a move away from its traditional 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. hours of operation for the Monongalia County Courthouse.
During a Wednesday work session, Assessor Mark Musick said the consensus among the county’s constitutional office holders is that 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. would be preferable.
Court security personnel at the courthouse explained that while foot traffic tapers off significantly after 4 p.m. or so, it’s fairly common for people to show up at the building prior to 9 a.m. and be left waiting at the front door.
It was explained during the meeting that Monongalia County appears to be one of only two counties still utilizing a 9 a.m.- 5 p.m. workday.
“I can see an advantage if they’ve got to be at work at 9 and they need to come down here and pay their taxes or something at 8:30,” Commissioner Jeff Arnett said.
Adding to the confusion is the fact that the other county building on High Street — the Monongalia County Justice Center — opens its doors at 8 a.m.
Commission President Tom Bloom said the body would look into the change.
“It’s a pretty easy yes or no. We just need to sit down and look at the pros and cons,” he said.
In other county news, the commission received an update from WVU Monongalia County 4-H Extension Agent Becca Fint-Clark and 4-H Program Assistant Heather Tanton during its regular weekly meeting.
The report highlighted events from an extremely busy spring and summer of 4-H programming, ranging from the traditional — 4-H camps and youth livestock shows — to things like learning about osmosis, building rockets and circuits and puzzling through escape rooms with some 2,449 first through fifth grade students with the support of the Monongalia County Board of Education.
Fint-Clark explained the 4-H year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30 and noted the year that just concluded saw Monongalia County 4-H engage 6,972 youth participants — a far cry from where it was when she arrived 15 years ago.
She thanked the commission for its support over the years.
“I take a lot of pride in what we’ve done, and I just feel so lucky. I feel so lucky to serve in this role as an extension agent. It was always my dream growing up in Preston County 4-H, but now here being in the best county in the state and doing what I love,” Fint-Clark said. “I really do appreciate you all. Thank you so much.”
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