The Hancock County Commission voted to terminate the Kennedy Marina Concession Agreement with Michael D. Shenton at its Jan. 23rd meeting. In a written communication Shenton was informed the agreement had been terminated because Shenton is in breach of contract for non-payment. According to the concession agreement, the Agreement will be terminated 60 days from Jan. 23, 2025.
As the County faces another year of reduced Racetrack Video Lottery revenue after their share was reduced from 2% to 1% in 2023, a Finance Committee was formed by the Commission. The reduction is estimated to amount to 10% of the County’s budget and the Commission met the deficit last year by using the Rainy Fund. Commission President Eron Chek said that Finance Administrator Ira Aracich would head the committee. Chek said a vote was not necessary to form the Committee.
The following Internal budget revisions were approved: County Commission Office – a reduction of $4,000.00 in legal ads with an increase in Co-Comm. Training & Education of $1,000.00 and County Commission Insurance & Bonds of – $3,000.00; WVU Extension Office – a decrease of $2,156.00 for PEIA Insurance and an increase of $2,156.00 for Professional Services; and Hancock County Animal Shelter; an increase of $106,530.00 for part-time workers, a decrease of $2,734.00 for full-time animal shelter salary; decrease of $33,000.00 for the dog warden’s salary; and $25,000.00 for PEIA for the dog warden; and $15,000.00 for FICA for the dog warden; a decrease of overtime of $2,796.00 for the full-time employee at the dog shelter. Increases of $1,000.00 each were presented for dog warden materials/supply and M&S Meds.
The Commission will receive $30,000.00 from a lawsuit filed again Pfizer and Ranbaxy on allegations of delay of availability of generic Lipitor (atorvastatin) between March 24, 2010 and November 30, 2011. The payment is to allow partial recovery of excess payments Hancock County paid for Lipitor during the time frame. The Attorney General’s office had devised a reimbursement plan based on population classification and that plan was approved by the State Supreme Court by an order issued Dec. 12, 2024.
The next regular Commission Meeting is slated for February 24, 2025.,
