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KINGWOOD - The Preston County Commission held a short meeting to approve four opioid settlement grant requests and to hire two new EMS employees.
Commissioners approved the hiring of Shawna Knotts as an Assistant EMS Director. She will begin work Oct. 16.
According to the county's official job posting, the Assistant EMS Director is responsible for assisting in the strategic and efficient leadership of Preston County's EMS operations, with a focus on positive patient outcomes. The role works under the EMS Director and supports the overall management of the county's emergency medical services, including coordination with the Office of Emergency Management and the 911 Center.
Commissioners also voted to hire Brian Larew as EMS Ordinance Administrator. EMS Ordinance Administrator manages the county's Special Ambulance Service Fee Ordinance and related compliance tasks. Larew’s first day on the job will be Oct. 16.
According to the county's official job posting, the EMS Ordinance Administrator will provide strategic and efficient management of the SASFO, which governs the imposition, collection and use of special ambulance service fees in Preston County.
In other business, commissioners voted to approve a $28,800 opioid grant request made by the Sheriff’s Office. During an earlier meeting, Jesse Hale, a member of the Opioid Advisory Board, said the board would like to include the Preston County Sheriff’s Department as a candidate for the grant. He said the deputies are front-line responders on drug-related calls and in saturation patrols.
A primary, often life-saving response to opioid overdose is direct administration of naloxone by officers and other first responders. The CDC estimates that nearly 111,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2022, but overdose deaths have been declining since 2023, with a 25% drop in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. Overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44.
The commissioners also approved these grant requests:
– Terra Alta Community Youth Center – $11,166. According to their webpage, TACYC is an ecumenical organization dedicated to providing high-quality experiences for local youth, fostering fun, learning, skill-building and community service. Its mission addresses youth under challenging as a factor in addiction, aiming to engage kids in healthy lifestyles, stimulate their minds through workshops and encourage civic spirit.
– Cuzzart Wesley Church – $10,000. The funds will be used for the Cuzzart Westland Recovery Program to expand education, support and community engagement for individuals with substance use disorders.
– Preston County Adult Learning Center – $13,275. According to the National Literacy Directory, the Preston County Adult Learning Center in Kingwood offers free adult education programs focused on literacy, high school equivalency, English, math, technology and workforce skills.
This includes GED preparation to earn a West Virginia high school equivalency diploma, literacy instruction to improve reading and writing skills, English language learning, math skills development, technology skills training and workforce skills programs to improve employment readiness.
The next meeting of the Preston County Commission will be 6 p.m. Sept. 29.