The Calhoun County Commission met Monday, November 10th, 2025 for their first November meeting. Commission President Craig Arthur opened the meeting by honor veterans in attendance and expressing great gratitude for their service.
Under public comment, School Board member Horst Motz spoke regarding the agenda item for the Commissions consideration of seeking the removal of the Current five member school board of Calhoun County Schools.
Mr. Motz stated that he found it personally disturbing and believes the action pointed a finger at him. Quoting a Ridgeview News article for which Commissioner Eric Lupardus stated that “regarding the animosity toward him, he answered to the people not the School Board;” Mr. Motz turned that statement onto the Commission stating that “he answered to the people as well, not the Commission.”
Mr. Motz read from the West Virginia State Code §6-6-7 which stated that ,(a) Any person holding any county, school district or municipal office, including the office of a member of a board of education and the office of magistrate, the term or tenure of which office is fixed by law, whether the office be elective or appointive, except judges of the circuit courts, may be removed from such office in the manner provided in this section for official misconduct, neglect of duty, incompetence or for any of the causes or on any of the grounds provided by any other statute.
He spoke of himself saying that the reason he appeared before the commission was because someone was not satisfied with his performance and would like to remove him from the position of School Board member. He did not believe he was deserving of removal for any of the three charges in the aforementioned code
- Commitment of a felony or any willful unlawful behavior in the course of his performance
- Neglect of duty – the knowing refusal or willful failure to perform an essential act of the office or
- Incompetence – the waste or misappropriation of public funds, conviction of a misdemeanor, immorality
Under new business the Commission considered a request from the Calhoun Christmas Committee for decoration and light display funding. After discussion the Commission unanimously voted to give the Christmas Committee $1,000.
A negotiated reimbursement rate was approved with regard to the Family Court building Rental costs which had increased. The Supreme Court agreed to raise what is being reimbursed through the fiscal year of June 30th, 2026. The Commission voted to approve the agreement.
Under the Commission’s agenda item to discuss petitioning the court for removal of school board members, Commissioner Eric Lupardus stated that after having many conversations with parents with concerns, it was determined that the Commission needed to respect the voters decisions and allow the people to vote their decision. He encouraged the community to attend the School Board meetings and make their concerns known. “It needs to start there before we go there with these drastic measures,” Lupardus said. There was no comment from either of the other commissioners. The matter was tabled indefinitely.
In a Conversation with Shelia Burch, Director of the Little Kanawha Area Development Corporation, Commissioner Craig Arthur discussed the need for insight that will lead the County in the direction of Economic Development.
Mrs. Burch gave a brief history of economic development in Calhoun County and the many leaders who developed the footprint of Economic Development in Calhoun County which included Stan D’Orazio who began the Calhoun Economic Development in 1957. Many others followed with Businesses thriving in Calhoun for over 20 years such as BF Goodrich, before leaving because of infrastructure failure.
Mrs. Burch praised the efforts of RPR Industries which continues to create manufacture military equipment and employ Calhoun residents.
Through the assistance of LKADC, 17 small business have been helped to get funding. The agency is hoping to help young people have a voice in Calhoun County as well as continuing to assist larger employment opportunities to come into the area. “You had ask me to look at properties for data centers, our problem is infrastructure and we (Calhoun) does not have the capacity. We need our infrastructure to have an update especially with water and power,” Burch said. A matter mentioned by the late Pete Zanoni who once said “If he had it to do over, he would have brought the business Rubber Crafters into the area rubber because of the roadways.
Mrs. Burch noted that she had assisted in getting $1.2 million in grants and $1.4 million in loan money for businesses.
Commissioner Eric Lupardus said that it will be beneficial for the New Commissioner Lee Rush to attend MOVRC meetings and to learn how the commission can help LKADC. With that response, Mrs. Burch told the Commissioners that if they had an issue with her service on the LKADC, her contract would be coming up. The Commissioners assured her that was not the case and that they desired to work with others to get help for the County. When Mrs. Burch suggested they get involved with State Officials, Commissioner Lupardus said that the Commission had had State Officials in attendance.
Under Commission Reports, LKADC Director Shelia Burch asked the Commission to update the Community on the Consolidation efforts of the Town of Grantsville and the Public Service Districts. Commissioner Lupardus responded that the O&M is having a meeting Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. which was open to. the public. When asked if the Commission attended those meetings the Commissioner said that they did but that the meeting was organized and ran by the O&M Organization. Commissioner Arthur has been spearheading the Water Projects for the Commission.
With regard to the long going Annamoriah project, Mrs. Burch informed the Commission that the project could enhance economic development in Calhoun County because of the far better roadways in that area that would attract business.
Commissioner Arthur stated that the multiple changes in staff at the MOVRC, and at the Town Office had created a lot of “moving pieces for the Commission to deal with, although it was getting better. Burch agreed they have had a lot of turn over in that office, but she was working with MOVRC to try and help the Annamoriah project move along. “In terms of two miles we could connect 5 counties for economic development,” Mrs. Burch said.
Commissioner Lupardus updated that Potesta Engineering is working on the West Fork Extension and that the Norman Ridge Project currently needs one or two easements but it is progressing.
Mrs. Burch recommended that the Commission make sure these project are staying active.
Sheriff Graham Knight reported to the Commission that the Accounting System Project recently approved was being installed
Shelia Burch advised Sheriff Knight that there was an issue with the lock on the annex building door that needed addressed due to the inability of the community not being able to get into the LKADC office as well as the Domestic Abuse Response Team Office. That matter will be addressed.
Kelli Barr, OES and 911director reported on the number of calls received by the agency as well as the successful training of new dispatcher Eliza Burch. Kelli recently attended an 8 hour training course and she is working to have the training offered to her staff.
Commission Lupardus told Mrs. Barr that MOVRC had contacted the Commission about a grant opportunity for the mapping. The current mapping locations can be off causing issues with emergency calls.
Shelia Burch asked the Commission if they were using Ezri, an enterprise technology that integrates and connects data through the context of geography. Commissioner Lupardus answered that they were using the Ezri system, for which they have a paid license for.
The long awaited Animal shelter is back on the agenda with a survey being conducted on property donated in the area of Route 33, Liberty Hill. Commissioner Lupardus said that a bank account had been established and there is a large committee working together to get the center built.
The Commission went into executive session at 10:58 a.m. regarding a Personnel matter. They came out of executive session at 11:19 a.m and reported not action had been taken. Commissioner Lupardus commended Kelli Barr for her attendance of several trainings and bringing new ideas into the staff.
Under grants, County Administrator Jennifer Randolph reported that an Excellerate grant had been applied for that could give the County $30,000 in technical assistance, based on the fact that Calhoun had previous flooding in 2023/24 and to help the County prepare for natural disasters.
The meeting was adjourned shortly before noon.
