Berkeley County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Berkeley County boards weigh water payments, grants, and development plans

Over the past two weeks, Berkeley County boards and commissions have taken up a range of items, from water infrastructure payments totaling more than $2.3 million to grants for local events and a request to replace an armored vehicle. None of the recent meetings have published minutes yet, so all items remain pending decisions. Several more meetings are scheduled in the coming days.

Water District

The Berkeley County Public Service Water District Board met July 27 to review payment applications for tank and plant projects. The board considered Invoice Application 9 for the Ridge Road Tank Replacement at $189,042.66, Pay Application 9 for Industrial Zone Tank Construction at $552,074.05, Pay Resolution #27 for the Potomac River Water Plant expansion at $36,423.44, and Pay Resolution #21 for the Bunker Hill Water Treatment Plant at $1,445,117.05. The board also discussed a long service line on Connector Road. No minutes have been published.

CVB

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau Board met July 29 to consider two grants: a $4,674.90 Support Grant for Berkeley County Pride and a $2,500 Print Media Grant for the Martinsburg Haunted History and Legends Tour. The board also had a possible executive session for personnel or legal matters.

County Commission

The Berkeley County Commission met twice. On July 30, it discussed accepting a FY23 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant, a bid recommendation for laptop computers, a Health Department Vehicle Use Agreement, a Berkeley Medical Center MOU and BAA, and bond releases for Snooks Lane Storage and Opal Meadows. On August 6, the commission considered a request from Chief Deputy Eric Burnett to replace the Bearcat armored vehicle, a resolution on the Valley Link transmission line presented by County Administrator Gary Wine, a Shepherd University Tuition Discount MOU, Inwood Park Requisition #9, and estate hearings for Wayne M. Schafer, Jack Arnold Ellis, and Anna Grace Page.

Planning Commission

The Berkeley County Planning Commission met August 3 to hold public hearings on eight development projects, including water storage tanks, residential plats, and a concept plan. Items included a detailed site plan for a Hatchery Road Water Storage Tank (File #2508-235), a detailed site plan for Vanville Church of Christ (File #2512-349), a detailed site plan for James Crites Kennel (File #2604-197), a detailed site plan for Cardinal Pointe Section 8 Phase 1 (File #2601-012), and a final plat for Southside Towns (File #2505-137). The commission also discussed the Comprehensive Plan Update ahead of a work session on August 17.

Sewer District

The Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District Board met August 4 to discuss alternate mainline extension agreements and received updates on the Woods Lagoon WWTP Upgrade, Northwinds Package Plant Removal, Chopwood Pump Station Replacement, and Spring Mills Pump Station Removal projects.

Storm Water

The Berkeley County Public Service Storm Water District Board met August 4 for a primarily procedural agenda, including approval of financials and minutes, with a possible executive session on legal and contractual matters.

Library

The Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library Commission met July 30 to review financial and facilities reports. The board discussed the Centennial Celebration and Fundraiser, an Overdrive Consortium Merger, Library Plaza plans with the Shade Tree Commission, library closures for the WVLA Conference and Centennial Celebration, and branch reopening plans.

Coming up

Several meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks:

• **Farmland Protection Board** – August 10: Consider CDARs renewal, an MOU with WVALPA, a CSM job description policy update, and an issue-related visit for PID 53.
• **Water District** – August 10: Vote on Pay Application #28 for the Potomac River Water Treatment Plant expansion at $412,993.59, a long service line on Anderson Road, and check registers for July 2026.
• **Development Authority** – August 12: Consider a lease agreement for 400 Foxcroft Ave, Suite 100, and an MOU with Blue Ridge Community and Technical College.
• **Roundhouse Authority** – August 12: Review a draft lease agreement, rental rate sheet, grant applications, window replacement status, and groundskeeping project.
• **Fire Service Board** – August 13: Approve financial reports, hear chiefs' reports from Companies 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and Berkeley County Fire, and discuss by-law changes, a Baker Heights MOU, and a Back Creek Valley addition.

Berkeley County Commission approves budget revision, relocates early voting site; water district to review over $2.3 million in payments

Berkeley County Commission approved a state budget revision, relocated an early voting site, and authorized tax exonerations and a drug screening contract at its July 23 meeting, according to official minutes. Several other county boards met the same week to review development plans, infrastructure payments, and operational matters, though most agendas have not yet been followed by published minutes.

County Commission

The commission unanimously approved State Budget Revision #1 for Fund 001 and voted unanimously to relocate the early voting site to South Berkeley Fire Station. The board also unanimously approved continuance of the Emergency Absentee Voting Policy.

In procurement actions, the commission awarded a bid to Redwood Toxicology for drug screening cups at $2.19 per cup (unanimous). The board approved 12 personal property tax exonerations totaling $3,735.50 and 32 personal property tax exonerations totaling $7,389.97, both unanimous. Two applications for property consolidation were approved unanimously. The commission tabled the removal of a Convention & Visitors Bureau board member by unanimous vote.

The commission met again July 30 to discuss acceptance of a FY23 State and Local Cybersecurity Grant, a bid recommendation for RFP Laptop Computers, a Health Department Vehicle Use Agreement, a Berkeley Medical Center MOU and BAA, and bond releases for Snooks Lane Storage and Opal Meadows. Minutes from that session have not yet been published.

Water District

The Berkeley County Public Service Water District Board of Directors was scheduled July 27 to review and vote on several payment applications totaling over $2.3 million. Items included Pay Resolution #21 for Bunker Hill Water Treatment Plant at $1,445,117.05, Pay Application 9 for Industrial Zone Tank Construction at $552,074.05, Invoice Application 9 for Ridge Road Tank Replacement at $189,042.66, and Pay Resolution #27 for Potomac River Water Plant expansion at $36,423.44. The board was also scheduled to discuss a long service line on Connector Rd.

Planning Commission

The Berkeley County Planning Commission was scheduled July 20 to hold public hearings and review several development projects. Agenda items included Final Plat Approval for Bridle Creek, Phase 7, Section 1 (Lots 701-708 & 737-788), Concept Plan Approval for Anchor Point, Preliminary Plan Approval for Rutherford Lane Development, and Detailed Site Plan Determinations for Grant County Bank and Stonecrest – Parcel A.

Sewer District

The Berkeley County Public Service Sewer District Board of Directors was scheduled July 21 to discuss Resolution No. 14 regarding the Northwinds Package Plant Removal Project, Pay Request No. 9 for the Chopwood Pump Station Replacement Project, Pay Requests No. 2 and No. 3 for the Spring Mills Pump Station Removal Project, and updates on the Woods Lagoon WWTP Upgrade Project and Ecolab Pretreatment Facility Compliance.

Other Boards

• **Airport Authority** (July 20): Scheduled to elect officers, review the June budget report, and hold a possible executive session on a property and legal matter.
• **EPTA** (July 20): Scheduled to review a proposed board resolution on the Multimodal Transit Center, RFP 2026-037 for Annual Audit Review Services, RFP 2026-03 for Low Floor Mini Van, a proposed Code of Conduct, and a proposal to resume in-person only meetings.
• **Storm Water** (July 21): Scheduled to approve financials and hold executive session on legal and contractual matters.
• **Parks & Recreation** (July 21): Scheduled to consider action on a United Bank C.D., an RFP for banking services, and a brush cutter purchase.
• **Senior Services** (July 22): Scheduled to review Finance, Facilities & Equipment, Personnel, and Fund Development committee reports.
• **Ambulance Authority** (July 23): Scheduled to discuss a Vendor Billing Agreement Amendment.
• **Museum Board** (July 23): Scheduled to review Mills Group marketing/fundraising materials, building studies, and a Norwalk Foundation grant proposal.
• **CVB** (July 29): Scheduled to consider a $4,674.90 Support Grant for Berkeley County Pride and a $2,500 Print Media Grant for the Martinsburg Haunted History and Legends Tour.
• **Library** (July 30): Scheduled to discuss Centennial celebration plans, Library Plaza plans, and branch reopening updates.

Coming Up

• **August 3 — Planning Commission**: Public hearings on eight development projects, including water storage tanks, residential plats, and a concept plan. Staff will also discuss the Comprehensive Plan Update ahead of an August 17 work session.
• **August 4 — Sewer District**: Discussion and action on Alternate Mainline Extension Agreements, plus project updates on the Woods Lagoon WWTP Upgrade, Northwinds Package Plant Removal, Chopwood Pump Station Replacement, and Spring Mills Pump Station Removal projects.
• **August 4 — Storm Water District**: Routine financials and minutes approval, with a possible executive session on legal and contractual matters.