Jefferson County Commission to Convene for Public Meeting on February 5th

The Jefferson County Commission has announced its upcoming meeting, scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will take place in the County Commission Meeting Room, located at 393 N. Lawrence Street in Charles Town, West Virginia, with attendees advised to use the East Entrance. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will also be broadcast live via Zoom. Residents interested in participating in public comment will have an opportunity at the beginning of the meeting for fifteen minutes. If public comments exceed this allotted time, remaining comments will be heard after the conclusion of all other agenda items. Public input can be provided either in person or by emailing comments to info@jeffcowv.gov.

The agenda for the February 5th meeting includes several key items for discussion and potential action. The meeting will commence with the standard order of business, including a moment of silence, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Pledge of Allegiance to the West Virginia Flag. A consent agenda will be addressed, which typically involves the approval of minutes from previous meetings, accounts payable, manual checks, payroll, and requisitions, totaling significant financial disbursements in the past few weeks. The commission will also review draft minutes from the January 22nd and January 29th meetings, alongside detailed financial accounts and payroll summaries.

Under new business, the commission will begin with Years of Service Awards at 9:40 a.m. Following this, at 9:45 a.m., a discussion on rural ambulance services is scheduled, to be led by Commissioner Pasha Majdi. At 10:00 a.m., Jessica James, the chief human resource director, will present for the approval of hires for Director/Chief of the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency and the appointment of a Director for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

The agenda continues at 10:15 a.m. with Nikki Painter from the County Clerk’s Office presenting on the monthly review of new estates, accountings, and waiver of final settlements. This segment also includes a request to reopen the estate of James Laing and an approval for an Extended Emergency Absentee Voting Policy. At 10:20 a.m., the Halltown Memorial Chapel Association will be discussed, with Commissioner Cara Keys leading this item.

A significant portion of the meeting is dedicated to Boards and Commissions, starting at 10:30 a.m. This includes a public hearing for the Eastern Panhandle HOME Consortium and a request for the approval of revised bylaws for the Jefferson County Water Advisory Committee. Engineering, Planning, and Zoning Director Roger Goodwin is slated to address a bond reduction for a performance bond related to Magnolia Springs Phase 3 at 10:45 a.m.

The meeting will also feature a consideration of an annexation of property into the municipal boundary of the City of Ranson, presented by Todd Wilt, City Manager of Ranson, at 11:00 a.m. This item pertains to Brian Run Estates Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3. At 11:20 a.m., Gabriel Ariezaga, director of IT/GIS, will address a constituent request regarding addressing naming conventions.

Chief Financial Officer David Bound will present several financial matters at 11:30 a.m., including ambulance fee exonerations, budget adjustments, county fire protection funding, and reimbursement grants for the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and the Peoples Bank Grant. The America250 Mural Project Grant will also be discussed. The County Administrator, Eddie Benites-LM, will provide legislative updates from both the West Virginia Legislature and the U.S. Congress at 12:00 p.m. Additionally, an update regarding a meeting between the Charles Town Utility Board, the City of Charles Town, the City of Ranson, and the County concerning utility board issues will be provided. The meeting will conclude with additional public comment following the regular agenda.

This meeting is a critical opportunity for Jefferson County residents to stay informed about local governance, financial decisions, and community development initiatives. The discussions on rural ambulance services, emergency management, and annexation indicate important developments that could directly impact public services and the future growth of the area. Residents are encouraged to participate in the public comment period to voice their opinions and concerns on these matters.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Jefferson County Commission

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