Berkeley County Commission approves grants, personnel changes and budget revision; commissioners note shelter shortfalls
July 09, 2026 | Berkeley County, West Virginia
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The Berkeley County Commission on July 9 approved a slate of routine business including grants, personnel items and a state budget revision, and recorded concerns about the county’s homeless shelter for women and children.
The commission accepted the FY24 Emergency Management Performance Grant presented by Elizabeth Lapchak, Grants Administrator; the award totals $94,164 with a total project cost of $188,328 and a 50% reimbursement match for operational expenses. Vice President R. Stephen Catlett moved to accept the EMPG; the motion carried unanimously.
The Commission also approved a request to apply for a 2026 HAVA Security Grant to replace DS200 ballot tabulators with ten DS300 units. Joy Shrek, Voters Registration Director, reported the total cost for ten DS300 units would be $92,448 and requires a 50% local match that the County Clerk will cover within his existing budget; commissioners voted unanimously to approve the application.
Tim Czaja, Director of Community Corrections, requested that a vacant Day Report Center driver position be reclassified to a Peer Recovery Coach; Jefferson County will fully reimburse the cost for services provided. Commissioners approved the reclassification unanimously.
Deputy County Administrator Chad Winebrenner presented State Budget Revision #1 (Fund 002), reappropriating $246,674 in coal severance funds to Fund 298 and noting the amount differs from earlier projections; Commissioner Hardy moved to approve the revision and the motion carried unanimously. Winebrenner also reviewed legislature-approved elected official compensation changes under Senate Bill 587 and the commission recorded those changes by unanimous vote.
The meeting included the public reports and administrative matters: sealed bids were opened for an RFP for laptop computers (low bid VPrime Tech, $54,985.92), a reappointment to the Berkeley County Museum Commission was approved, and several personnel status notices (hires, probation completions and resignations) were recorded. Commissioner John Hardy raised concerns about Bethany House, the county’s only homeless shelter for women with children, reporting service reductions after state funding changes and urging collaboration among county, city and state leaders to identify sustainable solutions.
The commission recessed after an executive session on real estate acquisition; no action resulted from that session.
The commission accepted the FY24 Emergency Management Performance Grant presented by Elizabeth Lapchak, Grants Administrator; the award totals $94,164 with a total project cost of $188,328 and a 50% reimbursement match for operational expenses. Vice President R. Stephen Catlett moved to accept the EMPG; the motion carried unanimously.
The Commission also approved a request to apply for a 2026 HAVA Security Grant to replace DS200 ballot tabulators with ten DS300 units. Joy Shrek, Voters Registration Director, reported the total cost for ten DS300 units would be $92,448 and requires a 50% local match that the County Clerk will cover within his existing budget; commissioners voted unanimously to approve the application.
Tim Czaja, Director of Community Corrections, requested that a vacant Day Report Center driver position be reclassified to a Peer Recovery Coach; Jefferson County will fully reimburse the cost for services provided. Commissioners approved the reclassification unanimously.
Deputy County Administrator Chad Winebrenner presented State Budget Revision #1 (Fund 002), reappropriating $246,674 in coal severance funds to Fund 298 and noting the amount differs from earlier projections; Commissioner Hardy moved to approve the revision and the motion carried unanimously. Winebrenner also reviewed legislature-approved elected official compensation changes under Senate Bill 587 and the commission recorded those changes by unanimous vote.
The meeting included the public reports and administrative matters: sealed bids were opened for an RFP for laptop computers (low bid VPrime Tech, $54,985.92), a reappointment to the Berkeley County Museum Commission was approved, and several personnel status notices (hires, probation completions and resignations) were recorded. Commissioner John Hardy raised concerns about Bethany House, the county’s only homeless shelter for women with children, reporting service reductions after state funding changes and urging collaboration among county, city and state leaders to identify sustainable solutions.
The commission recessed after an executive session on real estate acquisition; no action resulted from that session.
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