CHARLES TOWN – The Jefferson County Commission, along with representatives from the county’s emergency response community, will hold a public informational meeting regarding the proposed fire/emergency medical services fee Thursday evening in Charles Town.

The proposed fee would collect $90 per residential unit and 8 cents per square foot of commercial space annually. Those funding numbers were determined, in part, by the Jefferson County Emergency Services Agency’s five-year strategic plan, and the annual residential fee was originally slated to be $110.

The fee would subsidize daytime staffing at fire companies in Jefferson County whose members either work outside of the county or are unable to volunteer and run calls during the day, according to county officials.

At a March 15 meeting, the County Commission voted to hold an informational meeting instead of public hearing on the proposed fee because commissioners said they feel the public still has questions about the fee that officials would not be able to answer at a public hearing.

The Commission and emergency responders held several meetings on the proposed fee in different locations in the county during January. Earlier in the year there were hopes that the fee could be included in the county’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

However, commissioners did not believe they could have voted for the proposed fee so soon due to questions raised in the public meetings.

The informational meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in the Charles Town Library’s ground-level meeting room, 200 E. Washington St., Charles Town.

Earlier in the day Thursday the County Commission will hold its weekly meeting beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the library’s ground-level meeting room.

Jefferson County Clerk Jennifer Maghan is on the agenda for discussion and action on the “of State’s order regarding the correction to the instructions for selecting candidates at large to the National Convention the Republican Ballot” at 9:45 a.m., according to the commission’s agenda.

Ken Lowe, president of the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, is scheduled before the commission with a resolution in support of year-round thoroughbred racing in the county at 10 a.m.

The commission is scheduled to make a decision on health insurance benefits for its employees at 10:15 a.m. Paul Shroyer, the county’s director of financial management, will bring budget revisions, a funding request and audit reports to the commission at 10:45 a.m.

Olga Adams, with Potomac Headwaters Resource Conservation and Development Councils, will give a quarterly report to the commission and make a budget request at 11:15 a.m. Victoria Slater-Madert, with the Children’s Home Society, will bring a grant proposal for the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Services, Justice Assistance program to the commission at 11:30 a.m.

Also on the agenda the commission will discuss the possible purchase of the Briel Building and to set a date for a public hearing on the issue. The commission has rented part of the building since late last year in order to house staff members in the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Additional information on Thursday’s meeting is available by contacting the commission offices at 304-728-3284.

From staff reports