The Calhoun County Commission met for their regular monthly morning meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, September 14th, 2026.
Walter Wilson, an Emergency Dispatcher at Calhoun E911 addressed the Commission regarding a recent payroll error. The first of two errors was a missed payroll deduction for an optional insurance policy. County Clerk, Whitney Butler owned and apologized for the error which unfortunately happened again a second week when a software issue caused a missed deductions undetected by the the Clerk’s office. Rather than doing an automatic withdrawal from the bank accounts of the affected 911 employees, Mrs. Butler made contact with the staff via a letter in their paystubs, requesting to know how to best handle each individual case with the least amount of impact on their finances. The employees were aware that the money by their request was to be deducted, but they were offered the option of paying it in lesser increments to prevent a hardship. The 911 staff chose not to respond once the second error was found and this was addressed in the meeting. Wilson stated the staff knew there would be additional charges and wanted the clerk’s office to reach back out.
Office of Emergency Management Director, Kelli Barr, reported that she was working on the OEM report and weather issues. The number of calls reported through OEM was
- DNR 3
- Sheriff 86
- Arnoldsburg Volunteer Fire Department 13
- Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department 20
- 911 calls 47
- Roane County EMS – 84
- Upper WV Volunteer Fire Department 5
The Little Kanawha Development Corporation is currently vetting applicants for a new director to replace the outgoing Director, Shelia Burch.
The Commissioners and Administrator wore purple to the meeting in celebration of Recovery Month. The annual Recovery event was held on the Avalon Campus on Saturday, September 12th.
The Commission congratulated the Calhoun County Football team for having a 3-0 season following their victory over Wirt County on Friday, September 11th.
Commissioner Eric Lupardus reported that for the first time in some years a water project was underway with the Norman Ridge Water Project ready to go out for bid after a ten year hiatus.
The Mt. Zion PSD will meet today, September 14th, at 2 p.m. at the new water office in the Grantsville Industrial park. Commissioner Lupardus expressed concern that the Mt. Zion PSD meeting agenda had a rate increase request. It was expected after the Commission gave the PSD the remaining ARPA funding that the leaks that have been plaguing the system would be repaired. But the water continues to pour across highways.
Commissioner Lupardus will be meeting with the WV Rural Water development authority tomorrow, September 15th to look and discuss the West Fork water line expansion that will connect Calhoun to Clay county.
Calhoun County Park’s new Event Center had the concrete poured helping to bring the new center to fruition.
County events on the horizon not to be missed will be the Live Stock Sale for the WV Molasses Festival with the actual Festival being the following weekend with entertainment, vendors, parade and the much awaited opening of the Country Store.
An exciting event for October 2-4, 2026 will be the long awaited opening of the 16 Million Dollar Avalon Campus project with an action packed weekend of events and tours of the new facility.
The Upper West Fork Park has announced that they will once again be hosting events. The Park’s outside is hosting a music event September 19th from 6:00-9:00. Everyone welcome. Bring your own chair, enjoy the food available and get a preview of the new building site.
Support letters are once again being done for the installation of an elevator in the Calhoun County Courthouse. The grant application is due next week. Lupardus stated that the commission would narrow down the best plan that will not eliminate anything or create issues for the Courthouse.
Commissioner Lupardus made a statement without clarification as to what it regarded, stating that the Commission was “Unable to relinquish authority for “its return.” When Ridgeview News asked County Clerk Whitney Butler what it was that the Commission was unable to return? Mrs. Butler said “It was a request made by her office to resume all budget responsibility. This was how it was done prior to the retirement of Jean Simers, former Clerk.” According to the direction of the State of West Virginia the County Clerk is “Responsible for the bookkeeping of the county including budget, accounting and payroll, and to assist the County Commission in preparation of the budget as well as all financial documents.
County Clerk Butler provided the Commission a list of Election Officials for the upcoming General Election.
When it came to the appointment of a Mt. Zion PSD Board member to fill a vacancy, the commission decided to wait and see if there was more interest than the one person who had applied. The County’s Attorney advised that the 3rd member of the Mt. Zion PSD needed to be appointed quickly in case of a conflict between the two remaining members that would need a tie breaking vote. Lupardus stated that he believed that one board member could be from another district and that the commission will look into the legality of that option.
Clerk, Whitney Butler recommended that the County update personnel records to insure that all necessary documentation was in each file and that every employee’s file was cohesive with another. Commissioner Lupardus said that he didn’t want the Commission to overstep the bounds of the County Clerk’s office. The County’s attorney credited the County Clerk, Whitney Butler for a her uniformity and desire to update the county’s records.
A matter of contention was recognized when County Clerk Whitney Butler brought up the subject of updating the county’s handbook to clarify what the procedure was for documenting vacation and sick leave of county employees on salary. Butler cited two places where it was mentioned in the handbook but neither made it clear as to what the procedure was. Jennifer Randolph, County Administrator requested to know if this was “about her.” Butler responded that while she didn’t want to mention her by name, she was a salaried position that wasn’t clear in the handbook.
Mrs. Randolph, who works 4 days a week as Calhoun County Administrator, is paid $65,000 annually by the Calhoun County Commission. This following a $5,000 increase from the 25/26 budget. (Making her salary more than any elected official). In response to Mrs. Butler’s questioning of her accounting of time, Randolph stated that she and Kelli Barr, 911 Director “were salary employees with unlimited vacation and unlimited sick leave for their positions.”
Commissioner Eric Lupardus added that each elected official needs to “operate their own office.” Yet, all other county offices must account for their time, bring matters of staff salaries, etc. before the Calhoun County Commission for approval, but these two County paid positions are accountable to no one.
It was determined that a handbook Meeting would take place on the 24th of September at 10:00 a.m. during a work session and any changes will be added to the September 28th, 2026 meeting.
The commission considered and approved the hiring a deputy clerk for the County Clerk’s office. A Motion was approved to hire Britiney Blair at $15.00 per hour as an Election’s Clerk.This came following the retirement announcement of Brenda Ball, who is ready to enjoy her time with family. According to the Commission Mrs. Ball has been an exemplary employee. Whitney Butler noted that Brenda has been her saving grace since her appointment as County Clerk and she will be greatly missed. Tracy Quick will be the promoted into the position of Deputy Clerk which is currently the position held by Brenda Ball.
The Calhoun County Park requested the hiring of a Full Time County Park attendant. Park President, Donnie Pitts, told the Commission that 3-5 park volunteers work Monday’s for 8-10 hours as well as two others who spend two days a week mowing. The hiring of the new park attendant will assist in the care of the 5,000 square feet barn and the new addition of the 3,200 square foot event building. Those facilities need cared for weekly with several events scheduled annual around the park. He added that “Whoever we hire, must be someone physically able to do the work and have a love for the park. Additional cabins may be added in the future that will need done as well. The 200 plus acre park is the only park that is owned by the County. All other parks in the Community are 501c3 non profit organizations. The County does however contribute to them as well.
The Calhoun County Park Heritage village is looking to expand. The Historical Society has handled the villages events in the past but it will now fall to the Calhoun County Park volunteers. The park is looking for individuals to volunteer to open the village a few days a month. Christmas in the village will return and the electronic light show will be a late November and December event.
Ridgeview News asked about the electronic sign at the park entrance that seems to have a “glitch” making it sometimes hard to read. Mr. Pitts stated that they are working to get the sign back on line for editing and repairs, and plan to utilize it more to announce park events.
The new park attendant matter will be added to the next agenda to determine a budget. Mr. Pitts said this was not a problem and that the volunteer work will continue.
Administrator Randolph requested the approval of a resolution for a CFIA Grant for the installation of an elevator in the Courthouse. The grant has a $125,000 limit leaving the additional approximate $100,000 to be paid by the county or through other funding opportunities. If the grant is approved it would have to be put out for bid. The Commission was requesting and receiving letters of support.
