Published: March 27, 2008 09:43 am         

Building safety agents sought by county commission

KEYSER, W.Va. - The Mineral County commissioners are looking for four people who are interested in helping them clean up the county.

After giving final approval on the new building safety ordinance last month, the commissioners are faced with the task of appointing six people to serve on the enforcement agency.

The agency is charged with the task of investigating complaints about potentially unsafe properties in the county. If a property is deemed unsafe, it is the committee's job to enforce the ordinance and, if necessary, initiate court proceedings against the property owner.

The enforcement agency is to be composed of a county engineer, a county health officer, a fire chief or representative, a litter control officer, and two members-at-large.

The sheriff is involved in the group as a non-voting member.

County Coordinator Mike Bland said Tuesday that County Planner Scott Clay would serve in the county engineer spot, and one of the county's enforcement officers would serve in the litter control officer spot.

The other four positions are open.

Commission President Janice LaRue suggested accepting letters of interest from any county resident willing to serve on the panel.

Those letters should include the reasons the person is interested and his qualifications.

Bland set April 17 as the deadline to submit the letters to the commission, so the officials will be prepared to make the appointments at the April 22 commission meeting.

The county has two of the three enforcement officers who will serve at the agency's direction in place. Humane Officers Melissa Kidwell and Jim Hawk will do double duty as code enforcement officers for the building safety ordinance and litter.

A third officer will be named at a later date.

The new ordinance is designed to regulate those structures located throughout the county that are suspected to be unsafe or hazardous.

Residents may file a complaint about a suspect property, or the code enforcement officers may initiate a complaint. The complaints are then taken before the enforcement agency for further investigation and possible action.

Letters of interest in serving on the enforcement agency may be mailed to Mineral County Commission, 150 Armstrong St., Keyser, WV 26726.

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.