KINGWOOD — No one showed up to speak at the public hearing and second reading of the proposed abandoned and dilapidated property ordinance at the Preston County Commission’s regular meeting on Tuesday.
The second reading of the ordinance added some amendments including designating the enforcement agency of the ordinance the Preston County Property Safety Enforcement Agency.
As previously reported, that enforcement agency is a seven-person commission including a county engineer or other qualified person, county health officer or their designee, a fire chief from Preston County, county litter control officer, and two members appointed by the county commission for two-year terms — one at-large and one actively engaged in agricultural practices. The county sheriff serves as an ex officio member and shall enforce the orders of the Preston County Commission.
Other amendments to the ordinance include a paragraph that gives the commission the authority to order the owner or owners of a property to fix issues and “to impose daily civil monetary penalties” on those who fail to obey.
Another amendment gives property owners the right to appeal any order of the commission to the Preston County Circuit Court.
Commission President Don Smith and Commissioners Dave Price and Samantha Stone all voted in favor of the ordinance.
Smith asked if anyone from the public wished to speak and no one did.
County Administrator Kathy Mace said there had been no written comments on the ordinance and to the best of her knowledge no one had come into the office to review it. The ordinance is also available for review on the county’s website.
The third and final reading for the ordinance is at 10 a.m. Oct. 12.
The commission also proclaimed October Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Kim Liston, of Preston Memorial Hospital, read the proclamation.
About 1,470 West Virginia women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and about 290 will die, Liston said. There is a 12% chance a woman develops breast cancer in her life and a 2.6% chance of dying from it.
She said early detection, including self-examinations and mammograms, are the best defense against the disease.
Commissioners discussed employee pay raises in executive session; however, no action was taken, as more information was requested.
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