Pictured (l-r): Commissioner Brian Ellis, Chief John Smoot, and Commissioner Andy Skidmore.

The November 26 meeting of the Putnam County Commission was a special day for Teays Valley Fire Department Chief John Smoot. Commissioner Brian Ellis read a proclamation honoring Smoot’s 47 years of public service. Smoot began his service as a member of the St. Albans Fire Department in 1987. He served Putnam County as a member of the Teays Valley Fire Department from 1992 until this October when he retired.

Commissioner Steve Deweese who resigned effective November 30th was not in attendance.

In regular business, Commissioners Andy Skidmore and Brian Ellis acted upon six DAEA (Dilapidated & Abandoned Building Enforcement Agency) cases and filled vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission Board, the Putnam County Transportation Committee, the Putnam County Fire Service Board, and the Putnam County Development Authority Board. The vacancies on the Parks & Recreation Commission Board, the Putnam County Transportation Committee, and the Putnam County Fire Service Board were created by the resignation of Deweese. Commissioner Ellis will now serve on the Parks & Recreation Commission Board and Commissioner Skidmore on the Putnam County Transportation Committee and the Putnam County Fire Service Board. Doug Tate and Gary Young were appointed to terms on the Development Authority Board.

Commission president Skidmore announced the process by which Commissioner Deweese’s seat will be filled. Interested parties can access application procedures on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/putnamcounty commission/. If Skidmore and Ellis are unable to agree upon an applicant, the Republican Executive Committee (the political party of Deweese) must submit the names of three candidates. Skidmore will strike the name of one of the three. Ellis will strike the name of a second candidate. The third candidate will fill Deweese’s seat.

A copy of the proclamation honoring John Smoot follows:

Proclamation
WHEREAS, John Smoot has served the citizens of West Virginia and Putnam County for more than 47 years; and
WHEREAS, John Smoot served as the Director of Operations with the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority from December 1977 to December 2010; and
WHEREAS, John Smoot served as a Firefighter for the St. Albans Fire Department from April 1980 to October 1987; and
WHEREAS, John Smoot served as the Director of Emergency Preparedness Training Center RESA 3 Public Service Training from January 2011 to June 2018; and
WHEREAS, John Smoot served on the Teays Valley Fire Department from July 1992 to October 2024;
Be it therefore resolved that we, the Putnam County Commission, commends John Smoot for over 47 years of outstanding service to West Virginia and Putnam County and extends its best wishes for the future.
ATTEST: Putnam County Commission
R. Andrew Skidmore, President
C. Brian Ellis, Commissioner
Brian Wood, County Clerk

The commission next meets on December 17 at 9:00 a.m.