Moorefield Police Chief Stephen Riggleman addressed the Hardy County Commission at their regular meeting on July 7, regarding the emergency shelter on Elm Street across from the courthouse.
For most of the last year, the structure has served as a shelter for those with housing challenges. Last August, Joanna Reed from Eastern Regional Family Resources Network (ERFRN) told the Commission the home, owned by the Rural Development Authority, was to be an emergency, short term shelter.
“It’s short term, emergency housing. Two weeks to 30 days,” Reed said. She also told the Commissioners it would be for those who are “literally unhoused, fleeing, unhoused within 14 days, or homes are uninhabitable.” Examples given were house fires, no heat or running water due to utilities cut off or plumbing issues, and domestic violence.
Reed also said residents would receive assistance, such as help getting job applications, getting utilities turned back on, and finding longer-term housing.
According to Riggleman, 11 months after that Commission meeting, that’s not what’s happening.
“MPD officers began experiencing an increase in calls for service involving suspicious persons, loitering, littering, trespassing, disorderly conduct and other quality-of-life complaints,” Riggleman said. “As officers investigated these incidents, a common factor became apparent: Many of the individuals involved were residents of the emergency shelter.”
Riggleman told the commission he began tracking shelter-connected incidents in early May. MPD officers responded to 24 calls for service involving 11 different individuals staying at the shelter from May 7 to June 26.
One individual generated five separate police responses. Another was arrested twice for driving under the influence.
Many are not from Moorefield or Hardy County.
Nearly all of the police contacts occurred during daylight hours, consistent with the shelter’s policy of turning everyone out between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Most of the contacts were outside, in parking lots or at the Moorefield Town Park.
Riggleman said his department issues trespass notices to those violating Park rules, and advised them future violations would result in arrest.
Riggleman said, as a result of that strategy, complaints at the Park have dropped “significantly.”
“Our department is actively working with local organizations and service providers to develop a coordinated approach that connects individuals who genuinely need assistance with the resources necessary to achieve long-term stability,” he said, adding that residents need help they’re apparently not receiving.
Mallie Combs, the RDA executive director, said she had a meeting scheduled with ERFRN, and that the shelter’s lease is up in August.
She said, “It’s not supposed to be a homeless shelter. It’s supposed to be a temporary, emergency shelter only.”
Riggleman said he had a meeting scheduled with different community agencies to try to start getting people the help they need, and is already working on a packet for his officers so they can provide better assistance to those they encounter.
“If people want to work, and want housing, I think that’s possible in this community,” he said, specifically mentioning Pilgrim’s also assisting employees with housing.
Riggleman left after his presentation, but shortly after, Toni Young addressed the Commission on behalf of the West Virginia First Foundation. She began by saying, “(Riggleman) brings up what we want.”
She explained the Foundation’s plan for Last Mile Centers, which would each consist of a full-time nurse practitioner, assisted by representatives from each organization or agency that could be part of a citizen getting back on his or her feet.
“We believe the first center should be here in Hardy County,” Young said, explaining the plan is to position the nurse practitioner with Potomac Highlands Guild. She said they’re working with the Guild, and “two federally qualified health centers.”
“We can have all the programs in the world, but if someone doesn’t know how to get with them…” she said, acknowledging the reason Riggleman plans to assemble information packets for his officers to better assist citizens in need.
“We have no hospital, we have no residential drug facility in Hardy County. What you’re talking about, we have a big need for that in our community,” said Commissioner David Workman.
The WV First Foundation is seeking $20 million across the state; the money will pay the Last Mile Centers’ employees. They plan to field four centers, at $5 million each.
They also hope to get funding from other foundations and private individuals. If counties contribute, they’ll use the opioid settlement money.
The Commission agreed to sign a letter of support, and tabled further discussion about funding to a future meeting.
Commissioners approved designating September 2026 as National Recovery Month, and signed a proclamation. “Hope is alive, and no family fights alone,” said Potomac Highlands Guild’s Heather Bergdoll.
Commissioners reappointed Melvin Shook to the Hardy County Public Service District board of directors.
They reappointed Rodney Funkhouser and Robert Moran as board members, and Betty Arbogast as an alternate member of the County Board of Zoning Appeals. They tabled a new appointment of an alternate member.
The Commission reappointed Fred Brooks, Linda Burgess, Derek Barr, Roy Harper and Tim Cullers to the County Rural Development Authority.
They signed a letter of recognition for thanking Tabitha Hitt for her service as County Coroner, after receiving her letter of resignation.
The jail bill for May 2026 was $40,160.19. Farmland Preservation collection for June 2026 was $16,934.50.
The Hardy County Commission meets regularly the first Tuesday of each month. Their next regular meeting is Tuesday, Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. in their courthouse chambers. Unless otherwise stated, Commission meetings are open to the public. Meetings are also streamed alive, and available for viewing by segment after the meeting date on the Commission’s Facebook Page.
