Commissioner Jeff Davis chaired his final County Commission meeting Thursday bringing to a close 28 years of service to the County and the State of West Virginia. It was a bittersweet moment for while Jeff made the decision the time had come not to run for the Commission seat again, he leaves behind the friends and colleagues he had made during those years.
Jeff’s wife, Cindy; brother, Mark, and mother, Nancy Davis, were all in attendance at the meeting. Jeff noted that his two sons, Jeffrey and Joe, would have been in attendance were they not working.
Jeff thanked his family for the support they had given him during his years of service and the sacrifices they had made for him as he dedicated himself to the positions he held.
At age 32 , Jeff was first elected to the House of Delegates. He served four years in that position prior to being elected to a six-year term on the County Commission. He would serve in that position for 24 years and doing that time was the constant as several Commissioners served. Current Commissioner Eron Chek thanked Davis for his institutional knowledge and guidance during her term of office, “You could have let us fall, but you never did,” said Chek.
In an emotional farewell, Jeff said it had been “an honor and a privilege” to serve the people of Hancock County.
Although Davis is entering retirement from public service, his time will now be taken with his businesses which include Romas Pizzeria and Beverage Drive though and the many rental properties he own.
In other business, the Commission:
**Passed on a 2-1 vote, a motionto employ retired Humane Officer Floyd Schultz as part-time animal control. Commissioner Eron Chek voted no and expressed concern over the lack of specificity in the request, questioning the duties, rate of pay and to whom Schultz would report. She questioned whether there was money in the budget for the department that would have authority over Schultz.;
**Heard from Zach White, 4-H extension agent, who thanked the Commissioners for their support over the passed year . White noted that 3,500 youngster had been reached through the County 4-H programs and 250 adults.
**Voted to amend the 25-26 meeting schedule adding Jan.2 as reorganizational meeting for the Commission;
**Approved full-days off, the day before Christmas and New Years day
**Agreed to pay Kelly Vargo for accrued vacation days totaling $690.32;
**Approved reimbursement of travel expenses for Commission Cowey in the amount of $150.63
