Five people of the 24 applicants for the position of Director of the Mineral County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) will have interviews on Wednesday, May 21 to determine who may be recommended for the position.
This item of business was discussed at the MCEDA meeting, where Jennie Shaffer, a member of the search committee, presented a compiled evaluation list and job description for the new director.
Shaffer requested that other members of the authority review the listing and any submitted suggestions could be incorporated into the final interview of the five.
The performance evaluation is being prepared according to a rating system, where the final applicants will be assessed on a number scale from one to six, and will involve such calculations as “below expectations” to “consistently exceeds expectations.”
An additional rating sheet will deal with qualifications, skills, and experience and this director’s appraisal will be determined by a percentage value.
“When everything is added up according to the evaluations, we will have a good person for the director,”  said George Chidester, community member of the authority.
The director’s position has been vacant since the beginning of 2008.
Amy White, president of the MCEDA, said that following the selection of a director — and because that person will not be familiar with the daily operations of the authority — “training is necessary.”
In combination with the management training of the director from a state agency, White said that board members could also be part of the
me training procedure.
During the MCEDA meeting, the board members voted to allow the Frankfort High School Athletic Boosters Club to be able to take topsoil from an accumulated pile — situated at the Fort Ashby Industrial Park — for use on the school’s soccer field.
Another item of business concerning the industrial park dealt with the flooring estimates for the multi-purpose building on the property.
It was determined that County Coordinator Mike Bland will secure estimates by the June meeting for six-inch concrete flooring and six-inch sewerage main.
A nominating committee — consisting of Connie Sutton, Shaffer, and Tom Braithwaite — was appointed to present a slate for board positions.
The terms of White and Dr. Kerry Odell will expire shortly and neither of them is seeking to be reappointed.
White represents the business aspect of the authority, while Odell is the education representative.
The MCEDA holds monthly meetings that are open to the public and are held at Grand Central Business Center conference room in Keyser.