BUCKHANNON – Commissioner Kristie Tenney was voted in as Upshur County Commission President, taking the reins of the county governmental body during Thursday’s Jan. 7 meeting.

Tenney said she was in her third year of a six-year term and this is the first time she had been appointed president.

“This commission that is in place has done a wonderful job to be able to share that responsibility with one another,” Tenney said. “I just want to be able to continue to do our very best to support the community, and it’s just an honor to be able to serve in a different capacity, but still be able to serve. When we see a need as a commission, we are able to look at the possibility of filling that need and continue to make this a great place to live for the entire community.”

Tenney said community members don’t always know how many boards the commission helps operate.

“We have all of our different boards and it’s just a blessing and an honor to be able to dive into those and see how you can contribute,” Tenney said. “As a commission, I think that we have done a great job to try to meet some of our goals and continue to look at the goals that we have in the future and to meet those needs.”

She said COVID-19 has been a challenge for everyone, but she appreciates everyone’s patience and cooperation.

“I believe the employees and all the elected officials have done a fabulous job, being able to be flexible, because it is a weekly and daily obstacle that we have to face, and they have done a fabulous job,” Tenney said. “We’ve tried to do our very best to keep the staff and community safe and to keep them healthy, so we appreciate the elected officials and all of the employees that have worked with us as we change weekly. I think being able to continue to have that relationship is very important, and we’re very blessed here in Upshur County to have that kind of communication with one another.”

Tenney said she felt blessed and honored to continue working with the commission in a new capacity.

“I want people in our county to know that I have been blessed to this point, to be able to be in this position; I love being able to serve the community and Upshur County, and I’m just honored to be able to have this opportunity,” Tenney said.

In other Upshur County Commission news, the commissioners approved correspondence to Ryan Halsey, project manager, enclosing Community Development Block Grant – Small Cities Block Grant request for payment for the Elkins Road PSD Phase III Water System Improvements in the amount of $164,776.02.