The West Virginia State Constitution gives broad powers to the legislature to authorize the county commissions to exercise such other powers and perform such other duties, not of a judicial nature, as the legislature might elect to do. Many of the county commission duties and authorities are set out in Chapter 7 and elsewhere in the West Virginia Code. The following is a partial list of duties and powers: (NOTE: This material taken from the County Commissioner’s Handbook)
- Lay and disburse county levies (7-1-3)
- Preparation and adoption of a budget for all county offices except judicial (7-7-7)
- Supervise the general management of the fiscal affairs and business of the county (7-1-5)
- Approve purchase orders and payment vouchers for all elected county offices except judicial (7-1-5)
- Sit as Board of Equalization and Review to hear appeals on property assessments (11-3-24)
- Jurisdiction in all matters of probate (7-1-3)
- In cases of contest, judge the election, qualification and returns of their own members and of all county and district officers, subject to appeal (7-1-3)
- Custody of all deeds & papers presented for record through county clerks (7-1-3)
- Supervision & Maintenance of County Courthouses (7-1-5)
- Agriculture Extension (19-8-1)
- Authority to treat streams to prevent floods (7-1-3u)
- Cable Franchising Agent (Chapter 24D)
- Authority to hire litter control officers (7-1-3ff)
- Responsibility for naming and renaming roads, ways, streets, avenues, drives and the like, to assure uniform, non duplicative conversion of all rural routes to city-type addressing (7-1-3)
- Construction of waterworks, sewers and sewage disposal plants within their jurisdiction (7-1-non duplicative)
- Authority to lease, rent or permit the use of county property (7-1-3k)
- Appoint members of certain county boards, authorities and public service districts
- Appointment of Coroner/Medical Examiner (61-12-14)
- Adopt ordinances and orders in areas of jurisdiction as prescribed by law
- Authority to adopt, by order State Building Code (7-1-3n)
- Authority to require, by order, permits for mobile homes or house trailers (7-1-3p)
- Authorizing voter approved county service fees for infrastructure projects (7-20-11 & 7-20-12)
- Dog Leash Ordinance authority (19-20-6)
- Authority to govern business of massage (71-3z)
- Ordinance for regulating dilapidated building & structures (7-1-3ff)
- Ordinance restricting the location of business offering exotic entertainment (7-1-3jj)
- Ordinance authority to provide for the elimination of hazards to public health and safety (7-1-3kk)
- Ordinance authority to restrict certain activities in relation to obscene matter (7-1-4)
- Ordinance authority for counties with a county-wide comprehensive plan to further regulate or prohibit ATV operation on any road in the county (17F-1)
- Ordinance authority for county planning & zoning (Chapter 8A)
- Ordinance authority for County Addressing and Mapping
- Ordinance authority for Enhanced 911 (7-1-3cc)
- Floodplain ordinance authority (7-1-3v)
- Authority to establish a Hotel/Motel (Tax) Ordinance (7-18-1)
- Authority to establish a Fire Fee Ordinance
The County Commission provides funding and/or appoints Board Members (but does not manage) for the following:
- 26th Judicial Corrections Board (funding only)
- Buckhannon-Upshur Board of Health
- Buckhannon-Upshur Airport Authority
- Buckhannon-Upshur Parks & Recreation Advisory Board
- EMS (funding only)
- James W. Curry Advisory Board
- Public Service Districts
- Adrian PSD
- Elkins Road PSD
- Hodgesville PSD
- Tennerton PSD
- Region VII Planning & Development Council
- Stockert Youth Center (funding only)
- County Humane Office/Dog Pound
- Upshur County Building Commission
- Upshur County Civil Service Board
- Upshur County Development Authority
- Upshur County Enhanced Emergency Telephone Board
- Upshur County Family Resource Network (funding only)
- Upshur County Fire Board
- Upshur County Public Library Board
- Upshur County Safe Sites & Structures Ordinance Enforcement Board
- Upshur County Solid Waste Authority
- Upshur County Youth Camp
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