County turns attention to boards and committees

The Morgan County Commissioners set up another new committee, and interviewed citizens for a number of board openings during their August 4 meeting.

At the prompting of Commission President Stacy Dugan, county officials agreed to assemble a six-member group to re-negotiate a 10-year franchise agreement with Comcast, the regional cable TV provider.

The agreement comes up for renewal next spring.

Under the contract, the county grants Comcast rights to offer cable television services to residents, and the company pays the county 5% of its service revenue. The franchise agreement brings in about $44,000 per year for Morgan County.

Dugan suggested that Morgan County might force some cable improvements and expansion if it joined forces with Berkeley and Jefferson County in a regional negotiation with Comcast.

“The last agreement says Comcast would extend service five additional miles, but who is checking to see if it’s happening?” asked Dugan.
The commissioners agreed to each appoint two members to the franchise agreement committee.

Marcellus Shale group
Commissioner Brad Close announced his choice for the final member of the county’s new Marcellus Shale advisory group. Close picked Tim Seims as his second committee member.

The group held its first meeting last Thursday, August 4.

New planning member
County officials voted 3-0 to appoint Brian Carter to a vacant seat on the Morgan County Planning Commission. He will take the slot vacated by Tucker Stinebaugh.

Carter currently works at the Morgan County Health Department as a sanitarian. His three-year appointment begins immediately.

In other board business, the commissioners are currently interviewing citizens interested in serving on the Board of Health, the Parks & Recreation board and the Eastern Panhandle Transpor-tation Authority.