KINGWOOD – Members of the Preston County Commission took time during their meeting Tuesday to thank Clark Nicklow for his 30 years of service. Nicklow started as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department but said he was interested in 911. For 12 years, he has served as a public safety dispatcher and later was promoted to the position of addressing coordinator.
Following a decision by county commissioners to restructure the OEM and 911 offices into a single department, Nicklow was sworn in as the assistant director of the Office of Emergency Management.
In other business, County Administrator Nathan Raybeck said Region VI will have their ARPA money expended before the end of the year. He said theirs was one of the largest amounts still not used, but it is scheduled to be spent by the Dec. 31 deadline.
Raybeck told commissioners he received a letter about the detour route in Tunnelton.
“I drove out it,” he said. “Half way through it looks like a mine field with 6-inch potholes. All traffic including emergency response has to detour through it. It’s not properly maintained.”
Commission President Hunter Thomas said if the Department of Highways is detouring traffic through it it ought to be maintained.
Commissioner Samantha Stone said the commission has no authority over whether a road is maintained; however, she said they can send a letter to the Department of Highways about it.
“If there are potholes 6 to 10 inches deep, we will be contacting the Department of Highways,” Thomas said.
Stone said the county is still taking parade entries and inviting vendors to participate in the America 250 event Saturday.
Preston Prevention Coordinator Daniel Stiles gave the commission an update about the Poverty Stimulation that is taking place in August. He said the Health Department will also be sponsoring a dunk tank at the America 250 event.
Stiles said some of the people who have agreed to be dunked include Former Sheriff Jim Fields, Superintendent of Schools Bradley Martin, Commission President Hunter Thomas, Sheriff Scott Spiker and County Administrator Nathan Raybeck.
The next meeting of the Preston County Commission will be at 6 p.m. July 28.
