Putnam County Commissioners, from left, Brian Ellis, Andy Skidmore and Doug Pierson discuss the Teays Valley Road widening project during the Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, commission meeting.
Putnam County Commissioners, from left, Brian Ellis, Andy Skidmore and Doug Pierson discuss the Teays Valley Road widening project during the Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, commission meeting.
WINFIELD — During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s Putnam County Commission meeting, Teays Valley community members asked commissioners for their support and requested discussions regarding the Teays Valley Road widening project be added to future meeting agendas.
Scott Depot resident Gary Jones said many people feel they never had an opportunity to properly give input on the project.
“It was somewhat forced on us,” Jones said.
Commission President Andy Skidmore said he contacted the West Virginia Department of Transportation after the Sept. 30 commission meeting and learned they do not have a current plan for the project.
“It doesn’t seem like there is a plan or ... a funded project at this point,” Skidmore said. “We know what was initially proposed, but what I was told is that’s been pulled back. So there is not even a plan out there to even go through the details at this point. It was pulled back and is being reviewed as far as what the design should be or what it looks like.”
Skidmore said the commission would like to support the community members but because there is no updated information regarding the road widening project, he is unsure how. He said he will try to organize a meeting with the DOT, state representatives, stakeholders and landowners who would be affected by the project.
“I will commit to try to organize that meeting where everybody’s in the same room,” Skidmore said. “It’s not that we don’t want to support you. I just don’t know truly what good it does or what we’re supporting if they are reviewing and redoing this at this point.”
In other business
Commissioners approved a resolution of all claims against Cherry River Construction and Cincinnati Insurance Companies in a case pending in Putnam County Circuit Court, presented by county attorney Larry Frye.
A settlement was reached in the 2021 case. Frye said he was contacted by representatives of the Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown and Poe law firm requesting the signature of the commission president on a release and settlement agreement.
“This goes back to the Valley Park expansion and all parties involved include architects and contractors. So everybody’s kind of sharing in responsibility and to get this matter settled,” Skidmore said.
Additionally, commissioners approved signing a five-year contract with INdigital for 911 call handling equipment and network upgrade, originally presented by Mikyle White, OEM/911 director, and tabled during the Sept. 9 meeting.
“The numbers that were presented did come in under the GSA pricing model, which was what was requested we review,” White said.
The commissioners also went into executive session to discuss a property purchase, but no other information was presented during the meeting.
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