County Commission

Main County Commission 304-647-6689 ext. O

The County Commission is the governing body of the County made up of three member. The commissioner position is part-time and is a six (6) year term.

The County Commission is the governing body of Greenbrier County. Commissioners serve in part-time positions. Greenbrier County has three commissioners; each serves a six-year term and must be a resident of the county. Their term expirations are staggered, thus, expiring different years.

The Constitution provides certain powers to the County Commission but these powers are limited to “the manner prescribed by law.” This means that the County Commissions’ powers must be expressly conferred by the Constitution or by Acts of the Legislature. With respect to the powers of a County Commission, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has stated that “a county court (now County Commission) possesses only such powers as are expressly conferred upon it by constitutional or statutory provisions, together with such powers as are reasonably and necessarily implied in the full and proper exercise of powers expressly conferred upon it.”

The West Virginia Constitution, Section 11, Article 9, specifically grants the following powers and duties to county commissioners:

  1. The custody, through their clerks, of all deeds and other papers presented for record in their counties, with responsibility for their preservation or disposal as may be prescribed by law.
  2. The administration of the internal police and fiscal affairs of their counties, with authority to lay county levies, under regulations as may be prescribed by law.
  3. Serve as the judge of the election, qualification and return of their own members and of all county and district officers, subject to regulations as may be prescribed by law.

The County Commission meets regularly throughout the year. Regular scheduled meetings are at the Greenbrier County Courthouse on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday’s of each month at 10 a.m.

For archived copies of County Commission Minutes, please see the County Commission Assistant or the County Clerk.

The West Virginia Constitution, Section 11, Article 9, specifically grants the following power and duties to the County Commissions:

  1. The custody, through their clerks, of all deeds and other papers presented for record in the County, with responsibility for their preservation or disposal as may be prescribed by law.
  2. The administration of the internal police and fiscal affairs of the County, with authority to lay county levies, under regulations as my be prescribed by law.
  3. Serve as the judge of the election, qualification and return of their own members and of all the County and district officers, subject to regulations as my be prescribed by law.

Other duties and responsibilities are specified in Chapter 7 of the West Virginia Code, particularly in §7-1-2. These include:

  • Preparation and adoption of budget for all county offices except judicial
  • Jurisdiction in all matters of probate
  • Appoint guardians for minor children, receive court settlements generally
  • Own and maintain county property
  • Sit as Board of Canvassers
  • Lay and disburse county levies based on assessed property values
  • Sit as Board of Equalization and Review in February to hear appeals on property values for assessment purposes
  • Appoint Fiduciary Commissioners to oversee and settle certain estates as required
    Appoint members of certain county boards, authorities and public service districts
    Adopt ordinances and orders in areas of jurisdiction as prescribed by law
    Approve purchase orders and payment vouchers for all elected county offices except judicial

The County Commission is required by Section 9, Article 9 of the Constitution to hold four regular session (meetings) each year. These meetings must be held at the courthouse. Special sessions may be held throughout the year if called by the president of the Commission with the concurrence of at least one other Commissioner. Notice of all meetings must be given and meetings must be public, as required by open meetings law WV Code §6-9A-3. Executive sessions may be held as authorized by law. Two Commissioners in attendance at a meeting establish a quorum. The Commissioners choose one of their members to serve as president at the first session of each year.

Ordinances

Greenbrier County Leash Ordinance
Greenbrier County Subdivision Ordinance

Agreements

Greenbrier County Humane Society agreement – Under Construction – Coming Soon