Published: July 10, 2008 11:52 am      

Commission meeting with Patterson Creek residents

KEYSER, W.Va. - The Mineral County commissioners will meet with residents of the Patterson Creek community Tuesday evening when the county officials hold the first of a series of public meetings designed to "listen to the issues."

At the suggestion of Commissioner Wayne Spiggle during a recent work session, the commissioners agreed to set up a series of meetings in which they could meet with their constituents in their respective communities.

Calling the get-togethers "informal meetings for people who want to meet with the county commissioners," Spiggle said he could foresee holding meetings in the Antioch, Fountain, Fort Ashby and Burlington areas.

"We're going to start with Patterson Creek," he said Tuesday.

The commissioners have been meeting on a regular basis with the leaders of the county's five incorporated municipalities - Keyser, Elk Garden, Piedmont, Ridgeley and Carpendale - although Spiggle said he would like for the commissioners "to be invited" to meet with the governments of those towns.

Spiggle has met regularly with residents of the Wiley Ford area to discuss various concerns and issues.

For the most part, however, the residents of the county's smaller, unincorporated communities have been left out of the loop unless they chose to attend one of the commission's twice-monthly meetings.

"It will be a time for the commissioners to listen to the concerns of the residents and share information about some new things in the county," County Coordinator Mike Bland said.

The meeting has been scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Patterson Creek Community Building.

The commission also announced recent grants that were received:

* Division of Criminal Justice, $25,899 to assist in keeping a resource officer in the county school system.

* Gov. Joe Manchin, $133,812 and $62,500 Community Corrections grants to assist with the county's Day Reporting Center.

* Resource Enhancement and Protection Program, $3,000 for advertising and promoting recycling programs in the county.

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