Preston County Commissioners declined to hear additional funding requests from CARES and ARPA funding for the near future. From left, Commissioner Hunter Thomas, Samantha Stone and Don Smith.
Corey Edmonds of Mountain Laurel Clinic told commissioners the merger between his facility and Bruceton Family Medicine should be complete by August.
Staff photo by Theresa Marthey
Preston County Commissioners declined to hear additional funding requests from CARES and ARPA funding for the near future. From left, Commissioner Hunter Thomas, Samantha Stone and Don Smith.
KINGWOOD — Mountain Laurel Clinic is nearly complete with their merger with Bruceton Family Medicine.
Corey Edmonds of Mountain Laurel Clinic said approval to move forward with the merger was received on April 11, and they have 120 days to complete. The merger should be completed in August.
“Mountain Laurel Clinic treats everyone regardless of ability to pay,” Edmonds said. “We also offer transportation free of charge once the patient is established with our clinic.”
Mountain Laurel Clinic hopes to enter into a contract with Eric Belldina who owns Highland Pharmacy in Bruceton Mills, and there will be an on-site laboratory.
The clinic will be open five days a week with additional late nights.
Commissioner Hunter Thomas asked if they will be adding mental health help at the clinic.
“We lack in mental health services in Preston County,” Thomas said.
Edmonds said they have hired a psychologist for the staff in Bruceton Mills.
“We will also have a social worker and a care coordinator for those with chronic diseases,” Edmonds said. “There will also be a medical doctor on the campus.”
Mountain Laurel Clinic has three sites with Bruceton Mills being their fourth and first site in West Virginia. Other sites are in Oakland, Westernport and Grantsville all in Maryland.
In other commission business, Preston County Facilities Manager Joe Larue updated the commissioners saying the Family Court remodeling is nearly complete.
“The drywall is being worked on,” Larue said. “Brinks Security installed new cameras. Family Court has been working and not interrupted during the remodel.”
The work in the Sheriff’s Department continues by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration. The bathroom for inmates is fully functional so they do not have to be brought to the courthouse.
“Panhandle is only working on the main floor currently,” Larue said. “The subfloor and drywall in the kitchen are being demolished.”
Bids for a new chiller were opened but will not be awarded until next week.
“We are concerned on lead time on equipment,” Interim County Administrator Kathy Mace said. “It could be an issue, and we will have to ask for an extension on the grant.”
The bids were EMCOR Services, Fairmont, with a base bid of $135,921; Casto Technical Services, Charleston, $97,852; and H.E. Neumann Company, Wheeling, $107,889.
The commissioners did not review pending allocation of CARES funding for EMS nor American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“We should hold onto the ARPA funding right now for our own projects,” Commissioner Don Smith said. “We have given over $6 million to every corner of the county.”
The commissioners took no action on the 2023-24 WVCorp Coverage Intent Form as Thomas said it was not in-depth enough for him in order to approve.
• Signed a request for reimbursement of a surveillance camera in the amount of $10,000 from a Homeland Security Grant Award.
• Took no action on a quote for tinting the front windows of the Assessor’s Office. The total cost is approximately $2,070.
• Approved a request of reimbursement from a court security grant in the amount of $506.26.
Staff writer Theresa Marthey can be reached by email at tmarthey@prestonnj.com or 304-329-0090, ext. 624.
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