KINGWOOD – America 250, ARPA funds and coal severance were the main topics at Tuesday’s Preston County Commission meeting.
County Administrator Nathan Raybeck said that the American Rescue Plan Act funds must be spent by the end of December. He said commissioners should reach out to county entities who still have some of the funds to spend and remind them of the deadline. He said, if the funds are not used, the county can recapture them.
ARPA provided funding to support state, local, territorial and Tribal governments in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds can be used for various purposes, including administrative costs related to project implementation, restoring public services and bolstering the economy.
In other business, commissioners approved the $64,329 FY 2026-27 coal severance carryover. Preston County receives a share of the coal severance tax collected by the state from coal-producing operations. Seventy-five percent of the money received is distributed to coal-producing counties in West Virginia. The remaining 25% is distributed to all counties and municipalities in the state, based on population.
A final update abut the Preston County Days America 250 event was given by Commissioner Samantha Stone. The event is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 25 in Kingwood. She said local veterans will be participating in the upcoming ceremonies.
The event begins at 9 a.m. with the farmers market at the McGrew House. Starting at 10 a.m., vendors and food trucks will be available on Price Street, along with the the Health Department and other county services. During this same time, there will be an antique car and tractor cruise-in on High Street. At 11 a.m., the America 250 mural will be dedicated. At noon, Joann Peterson will perform as First Lady Abigail Adams at the Preston County Inn. And at 1:30, the parade lineup will be held at Fireman’s Field.
Stone said the Preston County Historical Society along with the Aurora Historical Society will be hosting a tent. She said a second tent will be hosted by participating municipalities. Stone said the Animal Shelter will be promoting pet adoptions.
In other business, Stone said elderly county residents should be on alert for scammers acting as government officials and law enforcement. She said scammers may ask for account numbers and sometimes say they are from Social Security or other government agencies.
The next meeting of the Preston County Commission will be at 9:30 a.m. July 21.
