BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission on Tuesday approved the purchase of property at 85 West Main Street – the Klie Law building – so the Lewis-Upshur Community Corrections can utilize it as a Day Report Center.

The Upshur County Commission convened a special meeting July 20 to approve the $294,900 purchase. Upshur County Commissioner Sam Nolte made the motion to approve the purchase and Upshur County Commissioner Terry Cutright seconded the motion.

“Basically, they’re renting the building out across from Huddle House right now, and they’re in a position that they can afford to buy their own place,” Nolte said. “[Community Corrections] has had several different homes over the last 10 years that they’ve rented, so this will give them a permanent home here in Upshur County.”

Upshur County Sheriff Virgil Miller also attended the Lewis County Commission meeting the same day to seek the commissioners’ approval of the purchase, according to Upshur County Administrator Carrie Wallace.

“Upshur County is the fiscal agent, so technically, Lewis County doesn’t have to approve it, but this is just in good faith,” Wallace explained. “They’re also asking for their approval because it is being purchased with Upshur and Lewis Community Corrections funding.”

Cheyenne Troxell, program director for Community Corrections, said their program aims to rehabilitate nonviolent offenders and reintroduce them into the community.

“We’re similar to probation or parole, but our end goal is to get people back into the community,” Troxell said. “Typically, we have nonviolent offenders – most offenders are [arrested] on drug charges. They come in we try to get them into rehabilitation or detox, and we help get them jobs and get them involved in service projects.”

Troxell said the ultimate goal is to help people reintegrate into their communities.

“Our hope is to get them back in the community to be normal citizens again, so we do all kinds of different things at the Day Report Center,” she said. “We do drug testing for DHHR, work, parole and probation; there are tons of things I plan on doing once we are actually able to move in.”

Wallace said Community Corrections will officially take possession of the property Sept. 20, 2021. Klie Law plans to move into the first floor of the Innovation Center, located at the corner of Spring and Main streets.

According to a previous My Buckhannon article Community Corrections saved the county about $1.5 million in jail fees in 2020.