Jefferson County Commission Approves Major Emergency Services Overhaul, Ambulance Fee Reforms, and Development Authority Appointments
Jefferson County commissioners approved a sweeping overhaul of the county Emergency Services Agency, including paying off roughly $794,060 in building debt, buying two new ambulances, and shifting ambulance fee collection to the Sheriff's Office. The board also appointed three new members to the Jefferson County Development Authority and approved transferring 11 acres to the Solid Waste Authority for a new residential recycling and waste transfer facility.
Highlights
- The commission approved more than a dozen actions to restructure the Emergency Services Agency (ESA), including paying off approximately $794,060 in building debt and authorizing new ambulances, medical equipment, and firefighting gear totaling over $1 million in combined spending from multiple funding sources.
- Ambulance fee collection will move from ESA to the Sheriff's Office on July 1, 2026, and a debt collection firm will be hired to pursue outstanding balances.
- Three members were appointed to the Jefferson County Development Authority following a straw-poll process among six nominees; two nominees received fewer votes and were not appointed.
- Eleven acres along Leetown Road were approved for transfer to the Solid Waste Authority to build a new facility separating residential and commercial waste traffic.
Consent Agenda
The commission approved minutes from three prior meetings (May 18, May 21, and May 26, 2026) and routine financial items without objection. Accounts payable totaled $232,135.93 (May 14), $782,474.94 (May 21), and $184,305.46 (May 28). Manual checks totaled $1,476,874.86 (May 14), $19,194.31 (May 21), and $1,089,893.26 (May 28). Payroll for the period ending May 22, 2026 was $501,409.73. A requisition of $1,109,298.10 was also approved. New dispatcher trainee hires for the Department of Emergency Communications were approved.
Vote: All consent items passed 5-0.
Assessor's Office: Exonerations and Oaths
County Assessor Angie Banks presented property tax exonerations — adjustments that remove or reduce tax charges — for commission approval. The commission also authorized President Majdi to sign certificates of oaths.
Vote: Exonerations passed 5-0. Oaths authorization passed 5-0.
Years of Service Awards
Seven county employees were recognized for one year of service in the Emergency Services Agency, Engineering Department, and Sheriff's Department. No vote was required.
Fiduciary Review Board (County Clerk's Office)
The commission convened as a Fiduciary Review Board to handle estate matters. Actions approved included:
- Monthly review of new estates, accountings, and waivers of final settlement since May 2026.
- Reopening the estates of Collis M. Philyaw and Constance Griffith.
- Accepting the resignation of the named executor in the estate of Randy Howard Matlick and appointing the Sheriff in that role.
Vote: All estate actions passed 5-0.
The board then reconvened in regular session.
2026 Primary Election Certification
The commission certified the statewide race results from the 2026 Primary Election.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Circuit Clerk's Office: New Hire
The commission approved hiring a deputy clerk in the Circuit Clerk's Office.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Sheriff's Office: Tax Deputy Hire
The commission approved hiring Jayden Cogle as an 80-hour Tax Deputy starting June 15, 2026, at a salary of $36,721 per year, with a $500 raise after successfully completing a 90-day probationary period.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
West Virginia Secretary of State: Office of Entrepreneurship
WV Secretary of State Kris Warner gave an informational presentation on the Office of Entrepreneurship. No action was taken.
Emergency Services Agency: Next Generation Investment Strategy
ESA Chief Todd Gorham presented a comprehensive plan to restructure agency finances and upgrade equipment. The commission approved the following actions:
Ambulances: Reaffirmed the purchase and outfitting of two ambulances at a total cost of $650,000 from Capital Outlay and $36,524 from federal ARPA funds.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Turnout Gear: Approved up to $22,923 from Capital Outlay for a one-time purchase of firefighter turnout gear. Remaining unspent funds in that line will be unencumbered.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Gear Washer: Unencumbered $62,500 from Capital Outlay that had been set aside for a gear washer, freeing those funds for other uses.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Medical Equipment: Approved purchase of cardiac monitors, a Hamilton ventilator, and support for a blood program. Funding: $86,363.64 from an EMS Equipment Grant, $952,494.21 from remaining ARPA funds allocated to ESA, and up to $37,012.98 from Coal Severance (one-time; remaining Coal Severance funds will be unencumbered).
Vote: Passed 5-0.
SCBA and RIT Firefighting Equipment: Approved up to $273,860 for self-contained breathing apparatus and rapid intervention team equipment. Funding: $248,963.63 from a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant and $24,896.37 from Coal Severance (one-time; remaining Coal Severance funds will be unencumbered).
Vote: Passed 5-0.
ESA Building Debt Payoff: Authorized use of historic ESA reserve funds to pay off the remaining balance on the ESA building in Ranson, projected at approximately $794,060 as of June 30, 2026.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Transfer of Remaining ESA Reserves: Authorized transfer of approximately $797,533 in remaining historic ESA funds to the ESA Capital Outlay account for future major equipment and capital needs.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Account Closures: Authorized closure of ESA payroll, operating, and building accounts once all approved transfers and the debt payoff are complete.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Ambulance Fee Account: Converted the ambulance fee account to an ICS (Interest-bearing Checking/Savings) account. Any funds above the established reserve will be transferred to the county General Fund and go through the regular budget process.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Recruit Training Program: Approved using the Rural Ambulance Fund to create a recruit training program and authorized a transfer of $36,000 from that fund to the ESA Salary and Wages account, effective July 1, 2026, for Fiscal Year 2027.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Transport Billing Rates: Approved updated ambulance transport billing rates as recommended by MCA, the county's billing contractor.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Ambulance Fee Collection Transferred to Sheriff: Moved responsibility for the Ambulance Fee Collection Office to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (in its role as County Treasurer), effective July 1, 2026.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Staff Transfer: Transferred employee Natalie Banks-Perkins, along with her salary, to the Sheriff's Tax Office effective July 1, 2026. Her pay will reflect the previously approved 2% cost-of-living adjustment.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Software Agreement: Approved an invoice and agreement with Software Systems Inc. for billing software, funded from the Contracted Services account.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Debt Collection Firm: Authorized hiring a debt collection firm to pursue outstanding ambulance fee balances, pending legal review of the final agreement.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Disabled American Veterans: Use of County Space
The commission authorized the local Disabled American Veterans Chapter VIII to use available classroom space at the county building at 393 N. Lawrence Street to help serve veterans in Jefferson County. Use is subject to scheduling availability and county policies.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Annexation: 4.37 Acres into Shepherdstown
The commission approved annexing 4.37 acres (Parcels 41 and 44.1 of Tax Map 8) into the corporate limits of Shepherdstown.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
West Virginia Goes Purple Resolution
The commission adopted the West Virginia Goes Purple resolution, a statewide initiative focused on substance use disorder awareness and prevention.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Boards and Commissions Appointments
Region 9: Daryl Cowles was appointed as the county's representative on Region 9 with a term expiring July 1, 2028.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Jefferson County Development Authority: Six candidates were nominated. A non-binding straw poll was held, with results as follows: Tyler Tummolo (4 votes), Kathy Skinner (4 votes), Kim Moss (4 votes), Zach Amato (3 votes), Nick Russo (2 votes). Britt Paul received no votes recorded. The commission then formally appointed Tyler Tummolo, Kim Moss, and Kathy Skinner, each with terms expiring April 5, 2029. Zach Amato and Nick Russo were not appointed.
Vote: Appointments passed 5-0.
The commission then entered and returned from executive session to receive legal advice. No action was reported following that session.
Engineering, Planning and Zoning: Burr Business Park Bonding Waiver
Director Roger Goodwin presented information on a bonding waiver request for Burr Business Park, Lot 1. This was informational only. No action was taken.
Fleet and Facilities: Sale of Excess County Properties
The commission approved engaging Lowe Real Estate Group as a commercial real estate broker to market and sell county-owned properties that are no longer needed.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Finance: Ambulance Fee Exonerations, Budget Adjustments, and CDARS Rates
CFO David Bound presented routine financial items. The commission approved ambulance fee adjustments and exonerations, approved budget adjustments, and authorized deposit of matured CDARS (Certificate of Deposit Account Registry Service) funds into a Capital Outlay checking account at a rate of 3.43% for liquidity.
Vote: All three items passed 5-0.
County Administrator: Opportunity Zones 2.0 Nominations
County Administrator Edwina Benites-LM presented an Opportunity Zones 2.0 nomination letter. The commission approved submitting applications for designated census tracts to the West Virginia Department of Economic Development for consideration under the federal Opportunity Zones 2.0 program, which offers tax incentives to attract private investment in qualifying low-income areas.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Prosecuting Attorney's Office: Farm Lease and Land Transfers
Farm Lease: The commission approved an annual lease of approximately 4.5 acres along Leetown Road (between Poor Farm Road and Fairground Lane) to Lyle C. Tabb & Sons, Inc. for farming use.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Land Transfer to Solid Waste Authority: The commission approved directing legal counsel to draft a deed transferring approximately 11 acres along Leetown Road (between Jefferson Orchard Road and Poor Farm Road) from the county to the Jefferson County Solid Waste Authority. The parcel adjoins the existing SWA facility. The SWA plans to build a new facility on the land dedicated solely to residential waste transfer and recycling, separating residential traffic from commercial traffic.
Vote: Passed 5-0.
Pending Litigation: An update on four active court cases was provided for informational purposes. No action was taken.
Adjournment
With no further business, the commission adjourned unanimously.