The following list of items is intended to give some idea as to the volume and depth of the duties and responsibilities of the County Commissioners, but is by no means intended to include all of the duties and responsibilities of the Commission.  

Purchasing

          The County Commission oversees all purchasing for the County and approves all requisitions and disbursements; handles bids for many items purchased such as contacting vendors for price and availability, meeting with elected County officials to establish specifications, seeing that bids are sent and publishing bids.  They also meet with other elected officials to discuss various purchases ranging from pens, pencils, and ammunition to automobiles and office equipment.  The Commission handles the acquisition of insurance for all County equipment and facilities and bonds for County employees.

Sheep Claims

          The County Commission receives and reviews claims.  Then they meet with claimants to discuss these claims.

Legislative Action

          During legislation sessions there are over a hundred bills proposed to the West Virginia Legislature that affect County government.  The County Commissioners spend a lot of time keeping up to date with the happenings in the Legislature such as knowing what bills exist and the content of each bill.  They work hard and become knowledgeable so that they can express their opinions to the Legislature to best represent the interest of the County.  In addition to reviewing proposed legislation, the Commission attempts to advise the Legislature of needed legislation for the benefit of the people of Wood County.

Trips

          The County Commission devotes a great deal of time to out-of-town trips on behalf of Wood County such as meeting with state or federal officials to obtain funds for various County projects.  Also, the County Commissioners attend state meetings in accordance with the State Tax Commissioner's Regulations.

Federal Programs

          The County Commission must stay informed and keep abreast of the various federal programs, funds available, and the procedures to obtain these funds.

Boards and Commissions

          The County Commissioners serve on various boards and commission such as, but not limited to, the following:

          Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council

          West Virginia University Extension Service

          Mid-Ohio Valley Board of Health

          Wood County Airport Authority

          Wood County Commission on Crime, Delinquency and Correction

          Wood County Commission on Intergovernmental Relations

          Fort Boreman/Wood County Historical Commission

          Wood County Development Authority

          Wood County Emergency Services

          Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission

          Wood County Planning Commission

          Wood County Recreation Commission (ex officio)

          Work Force Investment Act

          Enhanced 911 Communications Advisory Board

          In addition to the various boards on which the Commissioners now serve, they are required to attend many meetings called by various local governmental groups and public groups, local civic groups that request their attendance, 4-H meetings, Interstate Planning Commission, etc.

Appointments

          The County Commission appoints members to various boards and commissions through the County such as, but not limited to, the public service districts such as Mineral Wells, Union-Williams, Claywood Park, Lubeck, Central Boaz and the following:

          Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council

          Wood County Commission on Crime, Delinquency and Correction

          Wood County Development Authority

          Wood County Emergency Services and Advisory Council

          Wood County Parks and Recreation Commission

          Wood County Historic Landmarks Commission

          Wood County Planning Commission

          Wood County Recreation Commission

Budgets

          The County Commission meets in various sessions to prepare preliminary and final budgets for all the County operations and local agencies receiving County funds.

Board of Review and Equalization

          The County Commission sits as a Board of Review and Equalization during the month of February in each year, at which time they spend full time at the Courthouse receiving petitions filed by many taxpayers throughout the County in regard to assessment valuations placed upon both personal property and real estate.  After this Board of Review and Equalization, the Commissioners have follow-up meetings to make final decisions on such petitions.

Elections

          The County Commission is responsible for the operation of elections which includes providing places to vote in every precinct and poll workers for each polling place.

Dog Warden

          The County Commission contracts with The Humane Society of Parkersburg.

Facilities

          The County Commission is responsible for providing facilities for the County governmental functions.  The Commission is also responsible for the inspection and maintenance of these facilities.   Responsibilities also include making arrangements for use of these facilities by groups who request office space or utilization of them.

Industrial Bonds

          The County Commission has to review and approve all applications by local industries for industrial bonds issued such as the FMC, DuPont, Johns-Manville and Corning Glass Industrial Bonds authorization.  These bonds are issued in accordance with Environmental Protection Programs.

Annexation

          The County Commission holds hearings for annexation proceedings when requested by the local municipalities or individual groups.

Hearings

          The County Commission holds hearings on issues such as expansion of public service districts, street closing (in which case the Commissioners physically travel to and view the areas involved), right-of-way disputes, subdivision regulations changes, floodplain area designation, and maintenance associations.

Community Development Funds

          The County Commission is the applicant of community development funds in accordance with the Community Development Act and is responsible for establishing priorities, making application and administering the disposition of funds related to this act.  The County Commission has executed an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council for the administration duties of such funds.

Floodplain Regulations

          The County Commission is responsible for establishing and enforcing floodplain areas and building regulations in accordance with the National Flood Insurance Act.  The County Commission has adopted a Floodplain Ordinance for the County.

Senior Citizens Program

          The County Commission sponsors, funds and meets with representatives of the Senior Citizens Program.

Probate Function

          The County Commission serves as probate court.  Within these functions they (a) approve the appointment of individuals in fiduciary capacities such as administrator and executor of wills, committees or guardians; (b) appoint commissioners of accounts and receive quarterly reports from commissioners of accounts; and (c) hold hearings on petitions for removal of individuals in fiduciary capacities on contested wills.

Building Permit System

          The County Commission has adopted a building permit system for the County establishing and regulating building standards for the purpose of improving the health, safety and well-being of its citizens.

Permits for Mobile Homes or House Trailers

          The County Commission requires permits to be obtained to locate, place, or maintain a mobile home or house trailer.  This requirement is incorporated in the Building Permit System for the County.

Orphan Roads

          The County Commission is responsible for a complete survey of all orphan roads within the County, excluding roads in municipalities, which are open to the public and serve two or more persons.

Magisterial Districts

          The County Commission is responsible for establishing, changing, or consolidating boundary lines of magisterial districts within the County.

County Depositories

          At the beginning of each fiscal year, the County Commission by order of record designates banking institutions situated within the County as County depositories for public monies.  Designated banking institutions shall execute bonds with good and sufficient sureties.

Recordation

          The County Commission, through their Clerk, has the custody of all deeds and other papers presented for record within the County.

Approval of Plats

          The County Commission gives final approval to plats of subdivisions within the County prior to the recordation in plat books.  All such plats coming before the County Commission have had approval from the Wood County Planning Commission.

Salvage Yard Ordinance

          The County Commission has adopted a Salvage Yard Ordinance to establish a permit procedure and set forth rules and regulations for the establishment, operation, and maintenance of a salvage yard within the County.

Enhanced Emergency Telephone Systems

          The County Commission has adopted an Enhanced 911 System for all of Wood County.

Wood County Holding Center (Jail)

          The County Commission has the responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of the Wood County Holding Center (Jail) and also has the responsibility for the feeding and care of prisoners while in the Holding Center.

Hotel Occupancy Tax

          The County Commission has the responsibility of the distribution of hotel occupancy tax collected outside the municipalities in Wood County.  Distribution of such tax, in accordance with the State Code, is for visitors and convention bureaus, public parks, arts, historic sites, beautification projects, tourist information, or recreational facilities.

Abandoned Building Ordinance

          The County Commission has adopted an Abandoned Building Ordinance to regulate the repair, alteration, improvement, vacating, closing, removal or demolition of unsafe or unsanitary structures, and the clearance and removal of refuse, debris, overgrown vegetation, toxic spills or toxic seepage in the County for areas outside of municipalities.

Daily Routine

          The County Commission handles daily inquiries, questions, and complaints pertaining to citizen problems, governmental services, County employee problems, and County policy.  The County Commission is constantly in correspondence with various governmental agencies, public bodies, and individuals.  They make sure that questions are answered that relate to all the various functions of County government.  The Commissioners also take time to work with the news media to answer questions and inform them; the media is a helpful outlet for the Commission when getting the word out to the public about the Commission's activities.