KINGWOOD — In an unusually short meeting, Preston County commissioners voted to move forward with an agreement to update their employee handbook.
The cost of the update is not to exceed $3,000.
Commissioner Samantha Stone said once the employee handbook is updated, elected officials can choose to adopt it or not to use it. She said attorney Wendy Greve will provide a training session with county employees about the changes being made.
Greve works with the firm of Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown, and Poe.
“We have a retainer with them but the hourly rate increased,” she said. “I asked Wendy to redo our contract with the firm and we will have it on the next agenda,” she said.
In a letter to Commission President Don Smith, Greve wrote, “I am writing to confirm my retention to proved general legal counsel, as needed at the following rates: Wendy Greve, $250 per hour; associate, $185 per hour; and paralegal, $95 per hour.”
“We will keep accurate records of the time devoted to your work for billing purposes, including conferences conducted in person or by telephone, negotiations, legal research, file review, document preparation and revision, travel on behalf of your corporation and other activities related to this representation. Reimbursable costs include, by way of example, filing fees, travel expense, telecopy charges, courier charges, computer research, and photocopying,” Greve wrote.
In other business, County Administrator Nate Raybeck said Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, the company repairing water damage at the sheriff’s office, said the floors downstairs have been completed. He said next week Panhandle would complete the punch list and clean up. Raybeck said the electrical work is yet to be completed.
Commissioner Hunter Thomas said Preston County Senior Citizens is planning to add some Buckwheat Expresss routes to the Bruceton Mills area. He said once a week the bus will provide service from Bruceton to Morgantown and from Bruceton to Kingwood. Thomas said other routes might be initiated in the future.
Commissioners went into executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. No action was taken.
For those interested in running for office, the filing period ends at noon Saturday for filing in person. Mailed filings will be accepted if they are postmarked prior to noon on Saturday.
The next meeting of the Preston County Commission will be 10:30 a.m. Jan. 30.
The first February meeting will be at 9 a.m. Feb. 7.
