The Calhoun County Commission met on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026 for their regularly scheduled meeting. All three Commissioners were present, Craig Arthur, Eric Lupardus and Lee Rush.
Under public comments the subject of Public Service District issues was brought up with major concerns for the safety and provision of drinking water to both the Pleasant Hill and Mt. Zion Public Service Districts. Mt. Zion PSD member Ari White spoke briefly regarding their stance on the subject. The Commission questioned the Mt. Zion PSD whether or not they will assist Pleasant Hill PSD which Mr. White responded that they would assist but they would not share a job site. The Commission informed the Mt. Zion PSD that they are in an active O&M agreement and that the Commission thought it was ridiculous that the systems could not work together to provide water services to the community and that they would be in consideration of petitioning the court for the removal of PSD Board members. Board member Robin Hughes informed the commission that Mt. Zion had been carrying the Pleasant Hill PSD Board. Mr. White stated that their staff does not feel safe with the staff member that Pleasant Hill hired and that they will not put their employees in the field with Pleasant Hill. Commissioner Lupardus said they would look into the matter, but that they could call safety issues, but Mt. Zion has three field employees where Pleasant Hill has only one. It was stated by Commissioner Lupardus “The issue is that the customers do not care about your drama but they care about the water and that the PSD needs to cut out the “nonsense, and put their personal feelings aside and work with one another.”
October was proclaimed by the Calhoun County Commission as “Breast Cancer Awareness month,” with the reading of the proclamation by Commissioner Lee Rush honoring Breast Cancer victims, caregivers and families.
The commission was asked by Jennifer Randolph, Admin. Assistant to consider another service for courthouse phones, rather than the current annual amount of $2,400.00. Mrs. Randolph suggested that the commission not accept the current bill, but rather accept a lesser amount by another company.
The Commission approved funding in the amount of $1,000 to purchase candy for all elected offices to provide Trick or Treat candy for the Halloween block party; Attorney Kevin Harris of Harris and Holmes Law office is donating $500 to both Grantsville and Arnoldsburg parties with another $1,000 being approved in support of the annual Christmas Parade.
Under the subject of annual Christmas events the Commission approved $25,000.00 to promote and market local Christmas events. Those events include the Calhoun County Park Light Show and Heritage Village Event, the Bethlehem Walk, Arnoldsburg Community Park and possibly others yet to be announced.
The Commission approved changing Over/Under Tax Payment Variances to $5.00.
Sheriff Graham Knight received approval for the hiring of Deputy Jarvis (no first name provided) with a starting pay of $18.00 per hour.
Donald Pitts, Park board president provided a year to date report for the Calhoun County Park of events, projects and construction.
CALHOUN COUNTY PARK WORK AND EVENT REPORT
2026 events
- April Fools Bluegrass
- Waypoint 0 Grand Opening
- America 250 Unveiling
- July 4 Celebration
- West Virginia Imaging Association Star Party
- Christmas in the Village (November 28th)
- Christmas Light Display (December)
Work Projects
- Repair, Reroof and Install Siding on Storage Shelter Remove Old Tractor Shed and Prepare Grade for New Building
- Build Frame for America 250 Mural
- Build Road for Waypoint 0 Campground
- Manage Waypoint 0 Grand Opening Including Meals and Set Up
- Build Sound Panels and Install Sound System for Barn Assist With Installation of Park-wide WiFi System
- Install Foul Poles and Flag Poles on Ball Field Move Two Donated Buildings From MHHS
- Stake out New Event Center
- Develop Blueprint for Restroom/Bathhouse for New Building
- Remove Trees and Repair Damage From August Storms
- Replace Old Range and Range Hood in Barn Kitchen
- epair Sewage Line from Women’s Bathroom in Bar epair Water Damage and
- Replace Siding on one end of Barn
- Repair Foundation for Chapel Building in Heritage Villag
- Prepared Saw Mill Location in Heritage Villag
- Mow,Mow,Mow
- New Construction/Renovation/Additions
- New Tractor Shed
- New Event Center
- Kitchen in Barn
- New Cabin
- Gazebo
- Disc Golf Building
- Saw Mill
- Trail Upgrades (WVU Grant)
- Paving Grant?
- Well Over 2000 Volunteer Hours by Years End
- Additional New Annual Activity
- Group Hayrides Within the Park
Following Mr. Pitts Report the Commission approved $2,500.00 for the purchase of a wagon for use at Park events.
Shelia Burch, Director of the Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation provided an update of the 2026 Projects for which she has been diligently working on to promote economic development in Calhoun County. The update was read by Jennifer Studer.
Project Updates:
- LKADC-owned Johnson Street property in Calhoun County is under contract for sale, pending funding, required inspections, and appraisal.
- Anticipated closing is late October or early November.
- Greenbrier Environmental Services will begin the Phase II Environmental
- Assessment of the BF Goodrich property week of October 26. The completion deadline for report has been extended to December 31, 2026. I have listed the site as available industrial property on the West Virginia Economic Development website, but the assessment must be completed before we can pursue potential projects.
- Work continues with the Mid-Ohio Valley Trail Development mapping project in coordination with Mark Lewis of the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, covering areas in Wirt and Calhoun counties. The Wirt County Commission recently committed funding for the project, expected to increase interest in biking and hiking on the region’s back roads. I connected Mark and Jedediah Smith of Backroads Appalachia in hopes that a partnership can reduce duplicated work, align funding sources, and strengthen both organizations’ efforts to complete their goals and missions.
- Work continues as MHHS announced funding award for the Advanced Air Mobility project. LKADC, Roane EDA, ATAA, Calhoun and Roane First Responder teams, the WV Transportation Department, and others will continue to work with Minnie Hamilton Health Systems to aid project support. This has great potential in expanding other air mobility opportunities throughout the region. Questions should be addressed to Steve Whited and his team at MHHS.
- Recent conference with Hope and Mountaineer Gas officials. Discussions included local production efforts, community engagement regarding infrastructure usage and upgrades necessary to attract industry throughout the region and state.
- The Route 16 West Virginia Historic Energy Corridor project is progressing slowly following state-level staffing changes. LKADC is working with Pay Boyles and Sherry Mason of Pleasants County and Steve Parks of Ritchie County to create a recreational corridor connecting with the southern portion of Route 16, known as the National Historic Coal Byway. Many motorcycle enthusiasts travel thru WV on this north-south corridor, and our goal is to promote interest in the parks, businesses and tourist attractions along the route.
- Continue to promote loan funds – Chair monthly MOVRC Loan Committee meetings to promote LKADC revolving loan funds and other regional, state, and federal funding sources. Continue assisting small businesses interested in these increasingly popular loan programs as interest rates rise.
- Attendance at Pierpont Community and Technical College groundbreaking ceremony in Fairmont, WV. This project promises to strengthen workforce development throughout WV, most importantly our region as we strive to partner with the aerospace industry. The state’s aerospace hub in Harrison County experienced millions of dollars of growth in 2025 with promises to continue its growth with companies such as MHI RJ Aviation, Inc., NorthStar Technologies, LLC working with Pratt and Whitney, Boeing, GE Aircraft Engines, Rolls Royce, Lockheed Martin, NASA, Department of Defense, and others.
- Attendance at virtual USDA meeting to discuss Little Kanawha River Trail planning project. This project continues to move along slowly in coordinating efforts with Calhoun, Wirt, Gilmer and Braxton Counties.
- Completion of planning project is needed to move into implementation grant application phase.
- Worked with three new businesses to develop business plans and meet licensing and application requirements and assisted existing businesses with expansion plans, including the recently opened TYM Tractor Sales in Elizabeth.
- Submitted grant applications to PACF and the WV Culture Center for funding as fiscal agent for Stitched Together Quilters.
- 2025/26 annual report (attached) has been sent with funding requests to providers who have supported LKADC for many years.
County Clerk Whitney Butler announced that following an exercise in voting with both the Elementary Schools in Calhoun, Mrs. Connie Summers was elected as favorite teacher by third and fourth grade students who were given an opportunity to vote in a mock election using the County’a electronic voting machines. Students were also given a lesson in voting protocols and rights and encouraged to be future participants in the election process.
Also on addressed on the agenda were: sErroneous Tax Assessments and Consolidations – Assessor Jason Nettles, Wills, Bonds, Settlements and Estates – County Clerk Whitney Butler, Financial, Approval of Invoices for PaymentM Budget Revisions & TransfersFollowed by Adjournment
Next Regular Meeting: Monday, October 26, 2026 @ 5:00 pm
