Town Council members attending an emergency meeting was Tonya Cunningham, Marissa Staples, Emilee Morgan, Chasity Bell, Recorder Isabella McCormick and Mayor John Villines.
There was no Community Concerns or questions from the few in attendance.
Following the recent resignation of Councilwoman Jessica Metz, Emilee Morgan made a motion for the council to run advertisements, accepting letters of intent to apply for the open position of council. Chasity Bell seconded the motion and all council voted in favor. The ads will be ran in the Calhoun Chronicle, Ridgeview News as well as social media in hopes of reaching the greater portion of Grantsville residents for interest. The decision will be made at the February Council meeting.
Under New business the council voted for the full time hiring of Jeremiah Patten and Gary Collins for the Water Department.
Mayor John Villines then requested that the Council go into executive session to go over the Town hands books with the new staff. But before the council entered the executive Session, Publisher Shari Johnson of the Ridgeview News requested information on the report of a fraudulent check on the Town of Grantsville’s Account and the Town being locked out of their online Account at Calhoun Banks for that reason.
The Mayor and council members informed Ridgeview that there had been an attempt, or possibly a successful cashing of a $12,850.00 check at a Bank of America in Richmond Virginia. The check, written to Elaine Washington from the General Account of the Town Of Grantsville, was dated December 22nd, 2025 and cashed December 24th, 2025. The person for which the check was allegedly written to, was from Augusta, Georgia.
According to Mayor Villines and council members they were first informed that the check cashing attempt was not successful, but later received an overdrawn notice from Calhoun Banks. Calhoun Banks told them that it was an automatic letter and not an issue. But because the Town has been locked out of their online access, they do not know if it was cashed or not. The matter of fraud is being investigated by the Virginia State Police and the FBI.
According to the Mayor they are continuing to pay bills and staff.
The Town then entered into Executive session to go over the employee hand books.
What about the rubber tire backhoe that the town “traded” to Eric Cain? Plus the town used to have a dump truck that’s been seeing run around Elizabeth and the Wirt County area that’s now privately owned? None of them were put up for public auction like municipal/county owned property is supposed to be. Just like the shady stuff that went on when 5 sheriff’s department vehicles were sold to a deputies father for $100 each. Grantsville and Calhoun County are doomed with who all is in charge.
Who issued the check? Perhaps they need to be investigated?
I believe the check was fraudulently created.