December 2025 Meeting Minutes

MERCER COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING-TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2025-10 AM ¹

AGENDA: ²OPEN WITH PRAYER ³MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR NATIONAL GUARD MEMBER ⁴PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ⁵MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING ⁶APPOINTMENTS/OATHS OF OFFICE ⁷Mercer County Clerk’s Office Employment & Oath of Office Whitney Hurt, Deputy Clerk ⁸Mercer County Animal Shelter Employment & Oath of Office Sheila Harvey, Kennel Technician ⁹PROCLAMATIONS/RESOLUTIONS ¹⁰CONTRACTS/AGREEMENTS: ¹¹FUNDING REQUESTS: ¹²DISCUSSION: ¹³Resolution-Tie One on for Safety Greg Puckett, Commissioner ¹⁴Resolution Authorizing Expenditures from Opioid Settlement Fund Renovations at Mercer DRC ¹⁵Renovations at Emergency Mgt Office Bill Archer, President ¹⁶Mercer County Emergency Management Memorandum of Understanding with City of Bluefield Keith Gunnoe, Director ¹⁷Mercer County Health Department Choskie Harmon, MHA ¹⁸Downtown Countdown Lori McKinney, Representative ¹⁹Historic Tax Credits Brian Tracey ²⁰Mercer County Memorial Building Request to Rename Alexander Nicholi ²¹Enterprise Fleet Management Financial Analysis & Proposal Jackson Walker, Account Representative ²²Glenwood Park Updates Josh Parks, Assistant Superintendent ²³Mercer County Litter Control Office Logan Cole, Litter Control Officer ²⁴Keep Mercer Clean Campaign Greg Puckett, Commissioner ²⁵No Meeting on December 23, 2025 ²⁶PUBLIC COMMENTS: ²⁷ANNOUNCEMENTS: ²⁸COMMISSION TO APPROVE THE FOLLOWING: ²⁹+4

1. Invoices ³⁰
2. Settlements ³¹
3. Exonerations ³²
4. List of Approved Estates for November 2025 ³³

RE: WEST VIRGINIA: ³⁴At a Regular Session of the County Commission, held for the County of Mercer, at the Courthouse thereof, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. ³⁵+1

Present: ³⁶Bill Archer, President ³⁷Greg Puckett, Commissioner ³⁸Brian Blankenship, Commissioner ³⁹+3

RE: OATH & EMPLOYMENT – WHITNEY HURT – MERCER COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE ⁴⁰This day on motion of Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded by Greg Puckett, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the Employment and Oath of Office for Whitney Hurt to serve as Deputy Clerk for the Mercer County Clerk’s Office. ⁴¹+1

RE: RESOLUTION – TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY ⁴²This day on motion of Greg, Commissioner, seconded by Greg Puckett, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the Resolution – Tie One on For Safety. ⁴³+1

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE “TIE ONE ON FOR SAFETY” CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT IMPAIRED DRIVING AND PROMOTE ROAD SAFETY ⁴⁴WHEREAS, alcohol-impaired driving remains a serious public safety issue nationwide, with approximately 30% of all traffic fatalities in the United States involving alcohol-impaired drivers. ⁴⁵WHEREAS, in West Virginia, alcohol-impaired driving contributes significantly to traffic fatalities: over the past five years, 23% of the state’s total vehicle fatalities have been alcohol-related. ⁴⁶WHEREAS, in 2021, of roughly 280 traffic deaths statewide in West Virginia, 65 involved intoxicated motorists. ⁴⁷WHEREAS, county-level data indicate that in Mercer County, motor vehicle crash fatalities remain a concern ⁴⁸WHEREAS, the “Tie One On For Safety” campaign a program of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) – aims to increase awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and to encourage safe, sober driving, especially during high-risk periods like holidays and weekends. ⁴⁹WHEREAS, the mission of the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities is consistent with reducing substance misuse, protecting public health and safety, and supporting community well-being; therefore, partnership with “Tie One On For Safety” and MADD aligns with local public health and safety goals. ⁵⁰WHEREAS, the Mercer County Commission has a responsibility to protect the lives and safety of its residents, reduce preventable injuries and fatalities on its roadways, and support education and prevention efforts; ⁵¹+4

RE: RESOLUTION – OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES ⁵²This day on motion of Bill Archer, Commissioner, seconded by Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the Resolution Authorizing Expenditures from Opioid Settlement Fund. ⁵³The Commission authorizes the use of Opioid Settlement Funds in the amount of $61,365.00 for the Mercer Day Report Center. ⁵⁴+2

RE: RESOLUTION – OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUND EXPENDITURES ⁵⁵This day on motion of Bill Archer, Commissioner, seconded by Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the Resolution Authorizing Expenditures from Opioid Settlement Fund. ⁵⁶The Commission authorizes the use of Opioid Settlement Funds in the amount of $62,034.91 for the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department and the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management. ⁵⁷+2

RE: MERCER COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT – MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING CITY OF BLUEFIELD ⁵⁸This day on motion of Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded by Greg Puckett, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Mercer County Emergency Management and the City of Bluefield. ⁵⁹+1

RE: FUNDING REQUEST – MERCER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ⁶⁰This day on motion of Greg Puckett, Commissioner, seconded by Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the funding request from the Mercer County Health Department. ⁶¹Funding in the amount of $15,000 (Requested $30,000) will be taken from the Opioid Settlement Funds. ⁶²A resolution for the funding will be presented at the January 2026 meeting. ⁶³+3

RE: FUNDING REQUEST – DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWN ⁶⁴This day on motion of Greg Puckett, Commissioner, seconded by Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the funding request from Lori McKinney, Downtown Countdown. ⁶⁵Funding in the amount of $1,500 will be taken from Hotel/Motel and used for Entertainment at the 13th Annual Downtown Countdown, December 31, 2025. ⁶⁶+2

RE: FUNDING REQUEST – KEEP MERCER CLEAN CAMPAIGN ⁶⁷This day on motion of Greg Puckett, Commissioner, seconded by Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the funding request from Keep Mercer Clean Campaign. ⁶⁸Funding in the amount of $5,000 will be taken from Hotel/Motel and used for the Keep Mercer Clean Campaign. ⁶⁹+2

DISCUSSION: ⁷⁰Historic Tax Credits – Brian Tracy ⁷¹Mercer County Memorial Building – Request to rename it after Tony Whitlow. ⁷²Glenwood Park Updates – Josh Parks ⁷³+2

RE: INVOICES, SETTLEMENTS, EXONERATIONS & APPROVED ESTATES ⁷⁴This day on motion of Brian Blankenship, Commissioner, seconded by Greg Puckett, Commissioner, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the following Invoices, Settlement and Exonerations. ⁷⁵+1

It is ordered that this Commission be and is hereby adjourned until January 13, 2026. ⁷⁶

Would you like me to create a separate summary table of all the financial checks issued in November 2025 as listed in these minutes?