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 Hancock County Commissioners announced at Wednesday’s meeting they will meet with the Hancock County Park Board on January 27 to discuss any issues the Board may have.   The Commission has seen a frequent turnover in Park Board members they have appointed In recent months including  Naomi Balt, Mary Jennings Thorn and most recently Mallory Markowicz.    Commissioner Eron Chek noted that it has been awhile since the Commission has met with the Park Board and prior to making new appointments to the Board it would be good to know if there are any problems. 

  The Commission once again selected the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle as the lead economic development agency for the County.  The County agreed to pledge $39,675.00 for the Fiscal Year 2022/223 to be used as a cash match toward the grant being made available by the State of West Virginia for the economic development program.

   A letter of support for Mon Power and Potomac Edison’s application to the Public Service Commission to build (5) utility-scale energy facility throughout the State of West Virginia which could include a site in Hancock County.

  “There is a growing demand for renewable energy in West Virginia,   Not only would this be a great opportunity to meet the needs and goals of the customers, but it would also help further the state’s economic development goals,”  according to the letter of support submitted by the Commissioners..

    Commission President Paul Cowey  said one of sites under  consideration is a 51-acre site in Hancock County in the Sun Valley area and noted the renewable energy would help to attract new business to the County.

    In other business, the Commission:

**Accepted a $4,400.00 donation from the Hancock County Schools on behalf of the Hancock County Animal Shelter.  Nicole Felouzis, shelter director, thanked the students for the hard work in raising the money through a Halloween for the Hounds Fundraiser;

**Directed the Abandoned Building Ordinance Committee to proceed with necessary petitions  to schedule hearings for the proposed demolition of 504 Jefferson Street Newell, 2824 Middle Run Road, 796 Kings Creek Road and 408 Blossom Street, Newell;

**Donated $500 to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office Shop with a Cop;

**Granted approval to a resolution entering the Commission into a contractual agreement with the WV Division of Administrative Services, Justice and Community Service to receive and aminister funds for the Fiscal year 2021/22 Justice Assistance Grant for the Prevention Resource Officer; and

**Approved the hiring of part-time Animal Shelter employee Clara McIntosh effective December 9;