KINGWOOD — The Preston County Commission held a short meeting Tuesday, but covered several topics, including signing a resolution for Operation Green Light for Veterans.
In advance of the Veteran’s Day holiday, the county signed a resolution and announced the illumination of county buildings with green lights Nov. 6-12 in support of veterans and their families. Shining a green light lets veterans know they are appreciated and supported.
“In observance of Operation Green Light, the Preston County Commission encourages its citizens in patriotic tradition to recognize the importance of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights in a window of their place of business or residence from November 6th through the 12th,” the resolution reads.
Operation Green Light is spearheaded by National Association of Counties (NACo) and the National Association of County Veterans Service Officers. In 1922, more than 300 counties participated in Operation Green Light.
In other business, commissioners approved the hiring of Ravyn VanVleet as a regular part-time dispatcher for Preston County E-911. VanVleet’s starting pay will be $17 an hour, with prorated benefits.
Circuit Clerk Lisa Leishman also explained the need to hire additional employees in her office. Leishman said the circuit clerk’s office has not had a new hire since 2007. She said one of her clerks is used in circuit court almost every day and with a second judge being added in 2025, another clerk could be requested by that judge — leaving her short of staff for the office.
“We have old documents that need to be entered into the system. We are in desperate need,” she said.
Commissioners approved a budget revision of $7,500 for Sherea Turner, a clerk in Leishman’s office who retired and moved to part-time as needed, and said they would “get back to” Leishman about the request to hire additional employees.
A reallocation of $16,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funds was approved for the Terra Alta Water Treatment Plant. The money will be used for the demolition and replacement of the water tower. According to the request, the pump must be replaced in order to continue providing water to customers. Under the agreement, the town will replace the $16,500.
The next meeting of the Preston County Commission will be 9:30 a.m. Monday.
