By Hannah Heishman
Paul Lewis, Director of the Office of Emergency Management and the 911 Center, told Commissioners the memorandum of understanding with Rockingham County, VA has not yet been signed, or at least, that he has not received a signed copy. He said the MOU was cleared, legally.
Later in the meeting, the Commission announced that Lewis plans to retire in April as OEM director, and the job is considered open. For now, he plans to remain 911 Center director.
Roger Vacovsky, representing the Hardy County Emergency Ambulance Authority (HCEAA), updated Commissioners on the company’s budget. He said service billing has dropped since the end of September, possibly because the rural Medicare add-on expired Sept. 30 and the federal government shutdown delayed some payments.
He noted that West Hardy EMS sold all of their Holly Jolly Jackpot fundraiser tickets. West Hardy Treasurer, Billie Biddle, added her thanks to those who bought tickets, and said the company will call winners.
Vacovsky reminded the Commission of his request at a previous meeting to consider purchasing the Chief360 program. The request was tabled, then. Vacovsky said he will continue working to gain support.
He said there were six dropped calls in November, three on Thanksgiving Day when nine calls were dispatched to Company 3/HCEAA. Vacovsky said the agency is “bulking up” on additional personnel, with more applications in for consideration.
Sheriff Steve Dawson gave a brief Drug Task Force update. He said individuals from Baltimore are still trying to set up a drug ring in Hardy County.
Budget-wise, Dawson reported that, halfway through the fiscal year, his office still has 60% left of its budget, and that the tax office has 64% left.
A new cruiser is still not on the road.
Prosecuting attorney Robert Ryan requested an in-house budget revision, and updated the Commission on some of the changes he’s made to the office.
He canceled a contract with LexisNexis, a company that provides online legal, regulatory and business information, with WestLaw, which he said is more expensive, but a superior product. He signed a one-year contract.
He said he directed the office to stop buying any resource in print version, which will help offset the WestLaw price tag.
He told Commissioners he needs an employee to replace Holden Sions, who passed the bar and accepted an assistant prosecutor position in Hampshire County. Ryan said the employee won’t need formal legal training.
He said he has budget items he’s still reviewing, as he’s not sure why they’re needed.
“I’m pretty sure we’ll come in under budget,” he said.
Ryan said his office has cleaned up the backlog of cases, filed 75 felony cases, and is up to 26 juvenile cases this year.
Wendy Branson, Hardy County Coordinator, said the Pound picked up three dogs, that Potomac Highlands Animal Rescue accepted three dogs, and one dog was rehomed. One dog was dropped off by the West Virginia State Police.
“We have 13 dogs in our care, and we are at capacity.”
She said the pound received dog food and blankets from the Hampshire County Animal Shelter.
Branson said work updating the Employee Handbook is ongoing, and suggested a work session with Commissioners on Dec. 16 to get their guidance.
The Christmas Lunch is Dec. 16 at the 911 Center, and is $10 per person.
County Clerk Loretta Humbertson requested and received approval to send a budget revision to the State Auditor, required because money came in and must be documented.
The Commission approved the 2026 Voter Registration List Policy. This dictates what the Clerk’s office can give when individuals request a list of registered voters, as well as the cost, which is once cent per name. The list includes voters’ names and addresses.
They also approved the Voting System Security Policy, which details how voting equipment is secured. It has been a two-manual-lock system. This year Humbertson is planning changing to a two-lock digital system. Codes would be assigned to individuals, and the system remembers who’s been in, and come out.
The system is approved by the State. The general public does not have access to the area where voting equipment is stored, unless accompanied by the Clerk or the Clerk’s staff.
Humbertson said she’s hoping for a grant to cover the digital locks, but there’s money in her budget for it if grants fall through.
Commissioners also approved the Emergency Absentee Voting Policy, which covers a secure procedure to allow a citizen to vote if they were planning to vote in person, but are, for example, hospitalized.
The policy covers hospitals or licensed healthcare facilities within 35 miles of Hardy County. Two people do it, and Humbertson said it’s only been needed “a handful” of times.
The Hardy County Commission will meet again Jan. 6, 2026. The public is encouraged to attend. Meetings are streamed live, recorded, and are available to see on the County’s Facebook page and at HardyCounty.com.
