The Town Council and Mayor of Grantsville braced for impact on Monday night, August 4th, 2025 at the recent discovery of a $2,500 overpayment to former Mayor Robert Petrovsky and return of said overpayment. Council present was Tanya Cunningham, Emilee Morgan, Jess Metz, Chas Bell, Marissa Staples, Recorder Shannon Waldron and Mayor John Villines.
After the opening of the August meeting and approval of prior minutes (including the missing June 11, 2025 minutes) Mayor John Villines opened the floor to Citizens Concerns.
Robert Gaylen Duskey, Editor of the Calhoun Chronicle and Town resident informed the Council that he had filed a formal citizens request for a forensic audit. He stated that he had no problem with anyone on the Town Council but that he wanted the newly elected officials to have a clear playing field, meaning one without the unanswered questions and allegations of the previous administration.
Mayor Villines responded by telling Mr. Duskey that he too had contacted the WV State Auditor’s office, but he continued to be concerned about the cost of any audit and attorney fees for which the town could not afford. He would like a letter from the Auditor’s office confirming that there will be no charge to the Town of Grantsville for having a forensic audit done.
Citizens concerns
Mr. Duskey said that he had spoken to the auditor’s office and ask about the cost for which he was told there would be no cost for a necessary forensic audit. With the many questions about the prior management of Grantsville there would likely be a justifiable reason to have the forensic audit done.
Next to speak was former Recorder, Emily Collins who read a statement at length describing and accusing the current council of publicly accusing her of shredding documents and being in the City building after June 19th, 2025 to access election materials. She questioned individual council members about their roll in the accusations and alleged State Police investigation, for which she said caused her to be fired. She made mention of a karaoke system for which she said she owned but the town had questioned her retrieval of it. She further listed issues and accusations that had supposedly come from the City office that she had destroyed documents, had questions regarding bad checks and demanded to know why they had contact the WV State Police regarding her.
Mayor Villines told Mrs. Collins that if he had thought she was shredding documents, he’d have had her arrested and she really needed to stop listening to rumors for which all her complaints were based on. After going over the allotted time of 4.5 minutes Mrs. Collins requested an apology and left abruptly.
Local business owner Crystal Mershed applauded the Current Counsel for stepping onto the state of Recovery with their recent support of Recovery Events in the County. She thanked Mayor Villines for several transparent conversations she had with him and for the actions he is taking as Administrator of the town. She offered her help with grant agency contact to assist the town in funding for future projects. “My personal commitment to support this town,” Mrs. Mersh said.
With regard to the Forensic Audit, she told the council that as a trained professional auditor herself who has conducted forensic audits, she believes there will be a forensic audit done on the Town of Grantsville. Further stating that “Just because money is returned doesn’t mean there’s not an investigation and charges.” She spoke of the much needed healing in our Community and that the people needed to stop “walling themselves off from one another.”
Mayor Villines elaborated on the return of the $2,500 by Petrovsky saying that it was “an overpayment which was due to a clerical error/automatic payment that was made by their payroll software company. The money was direct deposited into the former Mayor’s savings account and went un-noticed.” Mayor Villines said after having spoken to Petrovsky himself when he heard about the discrepancy. “Perhaps Petrovsky paid to have his taxes done and made no notice of “extra money.” Mayor Villines said. “We are looking further to make sure there is no more clerical errors.”
Former Councilwoman Courtney Alexander had an abundance to say with regard to the Mayor’s overpayment. She chimed in multiple times during the Council meeting, explaining at one point that “It was inadvertently put in as biweekly, instead of bimonthly. He, (the former Mayor) got a $500 check every two weeks. Because of a recent home sale he had so much money in the bank he probably just didn’t notice the extra.”
Many sidebar conversations by both the audience and council members during the meeting made it difficult for online viewers to hear the meeting dialogue.
Under Mayor’s Communication, Mayor Villines stressed that if anyone had questions regarding Town issues, not to hesitate to contact himself and the counsel. But Please, don’t do it at their places of employment. This could cause issues for anyone of them. If you do not have their contact information, contact the office, and staff will make arrangements for you to have a conversation.
Committee Reports
Under New Business the city will contact the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department to determine if together they would like to host a Haunted House Fundraiser for the City Park.
The check list of information for Hope Water have been completed and will be sent via the County Commission Office of Eric Lupardus.
Former Councilwoman Cheryl Sturm asked if the O&M agreement was still moving forward to which the Mayor answered that they were waiting to get an O&M Manager hired and then it would be back on t rack again.
Councilwoman Tanya Cunningham requested permission to work on a fundraiser to make the City Park more handicap accessible. Mayor Villines said “Anything we can do to make improvements we should do.”
Emilee Morgan informed the Council that the new storage building at the City Park needed some attention due to a leak.
The bills were paid and financials distributed. Financial information will run as a separate article. Next meeting will be September 1, 2025 @ 6:00 p.m.
