By Liz Beavers

lbeavers@newstribune.info

Tribune Managing Editor

KEYSER – Wayne Spiggle’s first meeting as president of the Mineral County Commission was notable for two things.

First, the commissioner broke with tradition and re-arranged the seating in the commission room in an attempt to improve communication with his fellow commissioners.

Second, at least part of the commission meeting was held behind locked doors because of a suspicious subject present in the courthouse.

At the beginning of the meeting, Spiggle was elected to head the three-member commission on a motion made by Commissioner Cindy Pyles and seconded by outgoing President Janice LaRue.

Upon accepting the gavel from LaRue, Spiggle thanked the commissioners for their vote of confidence.

“Thank you for the honor of acting as chairman of these meetings,” he said, noting that the practice of rotating the presidency of the commission “sends the right message to the public that we are a collaborating body.”

Spiggle then eschewed the central seat traditionally occupied by the president and moved across the table from his fellow commissioners, saying he felt that being in a position where the elected officials  face each other  would improve the communication process.

Then, about halfway through the meeting, the commissioners received notification by telephone that a suspicious person had been found to be sitting in the empty courtroom above them, and law enforcement officials were on the alert.

As a precaution, the door to the commission meeting room, as well as some other offices, was temporarily locked.

According to witnesses, the  subject declined to say why he was on the premises, and later left without incident.

In other business related to first-of-the-year housekeeping, Spiggle announced that there would be no changes in which commissioners would be representing the county on various boards and committees.

LaRue will continue participating in the Mineral County Development Authority, Region 8 Solid Waste and Region 8 Planning and Development Council, the West Virgiia Workforce Investment Board, and the Mineral County Litter Control Task Force.

Pyles will continue to serve on the Potomac Highlands Regional Airport Authority, Mineral County Board of Health, Mineral County Farm Preservation, and West Virginia University Extension.

Spiggle serves on the Mineral County Ambulance Authority, Mineral County Aging & Family Services, Mineral County Planning Commission, Route 50 Association, and the Health Mineral County Coalition.