09-02-2025
Fayette commission addresses community corrections, other issues
Fayette County commissioners addressed several topics and issues during a regular commission meeting Thursday.
Among the activity during the meeting:
• Commissioners fielded a budget presentation from Teresa Gregory on behalf of Fayette County Community Corrections.
As a separate part of the conversation, Gregory requested funding for a part-time driver to be added to complement the lone full-time driver on the organization's employee roster and improve the transportation situation for clients. Including insurance, the total cost for the part-time driver would be $47,500 per year, Gregory said.
Commissioners praised Gregory for the progress made within the system in recent years.
'I attribute most of our success to the grass roots approach,' she said, adding that the program's clients are getting 'support they don't get anywhere else.'
She also thanked the commission for its support.
• The commission voted to move $50,000 of about $130,000 remaining in a Paint Creek spill settlement fund to the Fayette County Health Department for county-wide water testing, which would include a focus on sewage runoff in the Valley District.
To find out more about the water testing program, contact the health department.
• Commissioners approved a funding request for $6,500 from Active Southern West Virginia to dedicate toward a race timing system.
Melanie Seiler, the organization's executive director, and Brandon Mehlinger, the director of programs and events, explained to commissioners the impact of the group's various fitness-centric efforts, saying the annual races are a big part of the equation.
In the organization's decade in existence, it marked the first funding request to the Fayette County Commission, Seiler said. 'We feel we are an asset for the residents. We really want to grow our races …'
Active SWV's signature races include the Bridge Day 5K Run (Oct. 18 this year), the Rim 2 Rim 6 mile (May 3) and the Thurmond Triathlon (June 28), as well as other events. The first two races attracted over 500 participants last year, Seiler said.
Mehlinger briefed commissioners on the economic impact various ASWV races bring to the community. According to Seiler and Mehlinger, Active SWV worked with the National Park Service-RTCA to calculate the economic contribution of its race events in 2024 (1,243 racers total). The racers supported $344,434 in total economic output, which averages to $214.45 per racer. That was an increase from 2023, when 913 racers supported $279,793.95 in economic output.
Active contracts with Appalachian Timing Group to service its various races, but Seiler said the organization possessing its own timing system would allow more financial return locally, which in turn could benefit the myriad services Active provides. Seiler said Active is currently pricing timing systems, with some packages costing up to $8,000. Additional donations are welcomed through the website donation button at she said.
Commissioner John Brenemen asked ASWV to appear before the commission in May to provide details of what the organization offers to the surrounding community.
• The commission voted to postpone a board of equalization and review decision involving Imperial Colliery until its next regular meeting on Feb. 12.
