Planning commission appointed

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - Belmont County Commissioners made appointments Thursday to the newly established County Planning Commission, naming community representatives from throughout the county to the new commission aimed at helping with the creation of an economic development plan for the county.

Commissioners reconvened their regular weekly meeting from Wednesday and took up the unfinished business Thursday, passing a resolution appointing the list of volunteer members.

Representatives appointed as the first members seated on the planning commission will serve for terms of different lengths. The eight appointees will serve alongside the three Belmont County Commissioners - Matt Coffland, Ginny Favede and Chuck Probst - who will also be members of the planning commission.

Hence forward future members appointed to the commission will all serve three-year terms.

The newly appointed citizens to the Belmont County Planning Commission are: Susan Tolber of Martins Ferry, one-year term; Tim Merryman of Shadyside, one-year term; Michael Shaheen of St. Clairsville, two-year term; Josh Gasper of St. Clairsville, two-year term; Danny Popp of Shadyside, two-year term; Roger Deal of Barnesville, three-year term; Jack Cera of Bellaire, three-year term; and Robert "Bubba" Kapral of Bellaire, three-year term.

Commissioners said this is the next step toward moving forward with an economic development plan for Belmont County. The next step will be to establish bylaws for the planning commission.

The new county planning commission was established last month. In January, the commissioners hired W.S.O.S. CAC of Freemont, Ohio to work this year on developing the county's economic development plan. The consultant is expected to meet with the planning commission, which will serve as a "steering committee" to help the contractor develop the short-term and long-term plans for Belmont County's economic future. Governmental leaders on the municipal and township levels, as well as others are also expected to contribute to the development of the plan.

Ayres can be reached at eayres@timesleaderonline.com.

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valley148
03-05-10 9:52 AM »Report Abuse	And how many members of this planning commission are members of the Democrat Central Committee or Democrats? Interesting.

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