Source: http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/code.cfm?chap=07&art=3&section=12
Timestamp: 2013-12-12 00:52:51
Document Index: 586191349

Matched Legal Cases: ['§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7', '§7']

Chapter 7 Entire Code ‹ Chapter 06C
| Chapter 07A › Printer Friendly Versions
Chapter 7 | Article 7 - 3
| Section 12
7 - 3 - 1 7 - 3 - 2 7 - 3 - 2 A 7 - 3 - 3 7 - 3 - 3 A 7 - 3 - 4 7 - 3 - 5 7 - 3 - 6 7 - 3 - 7 7 - 3 - 7 A 7 - 3 - 8 7 - 3 - 9 7 - 3 - 10 7 - 3 - 11 7 - 3 - 12 7 - 3 - 13 7 - 3 - 14 7 - 3 - 14 A 7 - 3 - 15 7 - 3 - 15 A 7 - 3 - 16 7 - 3 - 17 7 - 3 - 18 4 - PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, REWARDS A
7 - COMPENSATION OF ELECTED COUNTY 8 - JAIL AND JAILER
11B - WEST VIRGINIA TAX INCREMENT 12 - COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL DEVELOPM
23 - LOCAL GOVERNMENT FLEXIBILITY 24 - APPALACHIAN REGION INTERSTATE
WVC -3- ARTICLE 3. COUNTY PROPERTY.
WVC 7-3-1 §7-3-1. Conveyances or devises to county.
No words in any devise or conveyance of real estate to a
county, or the county court thereof, or in any contract for the
conveyance of real estate to a county or the county court thereof,
expressing the purpose for which such real estate is devised,
conveyed or sold, or is to be used, shall limit or impair the power
of such county court to dispose thereof absolutely or use the same
for another purpose, unless it be expressly declared in such
instrument that whenever the said real estate shall cease to be
used for the purpose, or in the manner therein specified, it shall
revert to the former owner, his heirs or assigns. Every devise or
conveyance of, or contract to convey, land within the limits of a
county, heretofore or hereafter made, in any manner to or in trust
for or for the use or benefit of such county, its people or
inhabitants, shall have the same effect as if made to the county
court of such county.
WVC 7-3-2 §7-3-2. Courthouse, jail and offices.
The county commission of every county, at the expense of the
county, shall provide at the county seat thereof a suitable
courthouse and jail, together with suitable offices for the judge
of the circuit court and judges of courts of limited jurisdiction,
clerks of circuit courts, courts of limited jurisdiction and of the
county commission, assessor, sheriff, prosecuting attorney, county
superintendent of schools, and surveyor, and all other offices as
are or may be required by law: Provided, That the courthouse,
including any annex or other facility housing the courts and
offices herein set out (excepting all facilities that are on a
twenty-four-hour basis), shall be open to the public Monday through
Friday during the hours prescribed by the county commission by an
order duly recorded in the order book of the commission. The
county commission in such order may, in its discretion, provide
that the courthouse, including any annex or other facility housing
the courts and offices herein set out, be open on Saturday and
prescribe the hours during which it shall be open. In no case may
the county commission provide that the courthouse, including any
annex or other facility housing the courts and offices herein set
out, be open for business on Sundays or national or state holidays: Provided, however, That the county commission of every county
having a population in excess of two hundred thousand may provide
at the county seat or elsewhere in the county, as the county
commission shall determine, a suitable jail or jails: Provided further, That the county commission of any county, regardless of
population, may, as provided in article twenty-three, chapter eight
of the code of West Virginia, contract with the county commissions
of one or more other counties within this state for the erection,
construction, equipment, leasing and renting of a regional
correctional center for either adult or youth offenders, at a
location mutually agreeable to the contracting parties and not
necessarily at the county seat, which will serve each county
entering into the contract. The county commission shall keep the
courthouse, jail and other offices in constant and adequate repair,
and supplied with the necessary heat, light, furniture, record
books, and janitor service, and, except as to the office for the
judge of the circuit court, with the necessary stationery and
postage, and other things as shall be necessary; but all of the
public records, books and papers belonging or appertaining to the
county surveyor's office shall be delivered to the clerk of the
county commission and retained by him in his official possession
and under his control and shall constitute a part of the public
records, books and papers of his office. All courthouses, jails
and offices hereafter erected shall be built of stone and brick, or
stone or brick, or other equally fireproof materials, and the
offices shall be fireproof or be furnished with fireproof vaults or
safes. The jails shall be well secured, and sufficient for the
convenient accommodation of those who may be confined therein. The
county commission may also provide other necessary offices and buildings, and may, by purchase or otherwise, acquire as much land
as may be requisite or desirable for county purposes, and may
suitably enclose, improve and embellish the lands so acquired.
Subject to the conditions hereinabove set forth with respect
to the site of the courthouse, jail, and other offices, the
commission may, from time to time, as may seem to it proper,
provide, at the expense of the county, a new or other building or
buildings to be used for the courthouse and jail, or for either,
together with suitable offices, as aforesaid, and for that purpose
may acquire, by purchase or otherwise, and hold any lands, or lands
and buildings, which may be necessary, and may enclose, improve and
embellish the same. When any new or other building or buildings
shall be ready for occupancy, the county commission shall make an
order declaring that, on a day to be therein named, the new or
other building or buildings shall become the courthouse, or jail,
or both the courthouse and jail of the county, and shall cause
copies of the order to be posted at the front door of the new as
well as of the old courthouse, at least twenty days before the day
named in the order; and on and after the day named the new or other
building or buildings shall become, respectively, the courthouse,
or jail, or both the courthouse and jail of the county in all
respects and for all purposes. After the change shall have been
made the county commission may sell or otherwise dispose of, as may
seem to it proper, the building or buildings previously used as a
courthouse and jail, or either, and the land on which they are, or either is, situated, and of the interest of the county therein.
contrary, any county commission providing and maintaining a jail on
the effective date of this article shall not be required to provide
and maintain a jail after a regional jail becomes available
pursuant to the provisions of article twenty, chapter thirty-one of
this code, unless the county commission determines that such a
facility is necessary: Provided, That such county commission may
provide and maintain a holding facility which complies with the
standards set forth for such holding facilities in legislative
rules promulgated by the jail and correctional facility standards
commission or its predecessor, the jail and prison standards
WVC 7 - 3 - 2 A
The county commission of every county of the state shall
purchase, out of its General Revenue Fund, a United States flag and
a flag of the State of West Virginia, four feet by six feet in
dimensions and of regulation bunting, or of other appropriate size
and quality, for its courthouse, and shall require the flags to be
displayed from the courthouse, or from an appropriate nearby staff
or pole, every day between the hours of sunrise and sunset, except
in inclement weather. Each county commission shall also purchase
a United States flag and a flag of the State of West Virginia, and
require the flags to be displayed at all times in the circuit
courtroom of the county. Each county and any municipality therein
may purchase a POW-MIA flag to be displayed from its courthouse or
other governmental building alongside the state flag and United
States flag on Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Flag Day,
Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day and Veteran's
Day each year. The custodian or other person in charge of the
courthouse shall display the flags as required by this section.
Any United States flag or flag of the State of West Virginia
purchased out of the general revenue of the county must be
WVC 7-3-3 §7-3-3. Sale of county or district property.
Except as may be prohibited by law or otherwise, the county
commission of a county is authorized by law to sell or dispose of
any property, either real or personal, belonging to the county or
held by it for the use of any district thereof. The property shall
be sold at public auction, at the front door of the courthouse of
the county, and such sale shall be conducted by the president of
the county commission, but before making any such sale, notice of
the time, terms and place of sale, together with a brief
description of the property to be sold, shall be published as a
area for such publication shall be the county: Provided, That this
section shall not apply to the sale of any one item of property of
less value than one thousand dollars: Provided, however, That the
provisions of this section concerning sale at public auction shall
not apply to a county commission selling or disposing of its
property for a public use to the United States of America, its
instrumentalities, agencies or political subdivisions or to the
state of West Virginia, or its political subdivisions, including
county boards of education, volunteer fire departments and
volunteer ambulance services, for an adequate consideration without
considering alone the present commercial or market value of the
property: Provided further, That all real property conveyed or
sold by a county commission to a volunteer fire department or
volunteer ambulance service under this provision shall revert back
to the county commission if the volunteer fire department or volunteer ambulance service ceases to use it for the purpose for
which the real property was conveyed or sold.
WVC 7-3-3a §7-3-3a. Sale of county or district property; local option
election; petition, election procedure; form of
ballot; effect of such election.
The county commission of any county is authorized to call a
local option election for the purpose of determining the will of
the voters as to whether specific real property belonging to the
county or held by it for the use of any district thereof shall be
conveyed or whether the buildings and improvements thereon shall be
A petition for such local option election shall be in the form
hereinafter specified and shall be signed by qualified voters
residing within said county equal to at least ten percent of the
persons qualified to vote within said county at the last general
election. For the purpose of this article, the term "qualified
voters" shall mean those actually voting at the last general
election and not those registered to vote. Said petition may be in
any number of counterparts and shall be sufficient if substantially
DEMOLITION OF COUNTY BUILDINGS OR IMPROVEMENTS
Each of the undersigned certifies that he or she is a person
residing in ______________________ County, West Virginia, and is duly qualified to vote in said county under the laws of the State,
and that his or her name, address and the date of signing this
petition are correctly set forth below.
The undersigned petition said county commission to call and
hold a local option election upon the following question: Shall
the county commission of ________________ County, West Virginia, be
authorized to convey (or demolish buildings and improvements
located on) the following described real property belonging to the
county or held by it for the use of a district thereof: (here
insert property description)
_____________________ ____________________ ___________
(Each person signing must specify either his post-office address or
his street number.)
Upon the filing of a petition for a local option election in
accordance with the provisions of this section, the county
commission shall enter an order calling a local option election and
providing that the same shall be held at the same time and as a
part of the next primary or general election to be held in said
county. Said county commission shall give notice of such local
option election by publication in two newspapers of opposite
politics and of general circulation within said county. Said
notice shall be given at least once each week for two successive
weeks prior to the date of said election. If there is only one newspaper published in said county, publication of said notice
therein shall be sufficient.
Each person qualified to vote in said county at said primary
or general election shall likewise be qualified to vote at the
local option election. The election officers appointed and
qualified to serve as such at said primary or general election
shall conduct said local option election in connection with and as
a part of said primary or general election. The ballots in said
local option election shall be counted and returns made by the
election officers and the results certified by the commissioners of
election to said county commission which shall canvass the ballots,
all in accordance with the laws of the state of West Virginia
relating to primary and general elections insofar as the same are
applicable. The county commission shall, without delay, canvass
the ballots cast at said local option election and certify the
result thereof.
The ballot to be used in said local option election shall have
printed thereon substantially the following:
"Shall the county commission of ________________________
County be authorized to convey (or demolish buildings and
improvements located on) the following described real property
belonging to the county? (insert description)
If a majority of the voters voting at any such local option election vote "no" on the foregoing question, the county commission
shall not thereafter be permitted to convey said real property or
demolish the buildings and improvements thereon, as the case may
be, unless thereafter authorized so to do.
Nothing herein shall prohibit the county commission from
altering, improving and maintaining such real property or the
buildings and improvements thereon in any manner whatsoever which
does not demolish the building or improvements which were subject
to the referendum.
The county commission of any county wherein a majority of the
voters have refused permission to convey or demolish specific real
property or buildings or improvements pursuant to this section may
on its own motion initiate an election pursuant to this section at
any primary or general election held in such county after the
voters have refused such permission and may restate the description
of property or action desired to be taken in such manner as the
commission shall determine.
WVC 7-3-4 §7-3-4. Leasing of county lands for oil, gas or minerals.
The county court of any county may lease for oil or gas or
other minerals, any lands owned in fee by it, the rentals,
royalties or proceeds of any such lease to be placed to the credit
of the general county fund of the county.
WVC 7-3-5 §7-3-5. County commissions authorized to acquire and convey real
estate and contract for construction, etc., and rental
of courthouse, jail or other public building.
The county commission of any county is hereby authorized and
empowered to acquire real estate and to convey real estate and to
enter into a contract, or lease, or both, with the United States
government, or any federal agency authorized to make or enter into
a contract, or lease, or with any bank or financial institution, or
with any individual or persons for the erection, construction,
equipment, leasing and renting of a courthouse, hospital, other
public buildings, or jail, with an option to purchase the building
and to provide for the payment of a yearly rental for the building
by the commission: Provided, That any county commission may, as
provided in chapter eight, article twenty-three of the code of West
Virginia, also contract with one or more other county commissions
within this state for the erection, construction, equipment,
leasing and renting of a regional correctional center for either
adult or youth offenders at a location mutually agreeable to the
contracting parties and not necessarily at the county seat. The
county commission of any county is also authorized to contract with
the United States government, or any federal agency authorized to
make or enter into a contract, or any bank or financial
institution, or any individual or persons, to the end that the
United States government, or any of its agencies, or agents
thereunto duly authorized, or bank or financial institution or individual or persons, may for and on behalf of any county
commission, build, erect, construct, equip or furnish upon the
property any building, or buildings, including a hospital; and to
contract with the United States government, or any federal agency,
or bank, or financial institution, or individual, or persons, for
the lease, or rental, of the building or buildings, with the
privilege and authority of renewing any lease from year to year,
for any period of years, not exceeding thirty, with the right to
purchase the building, or buildings, and real estate on which the
building or buildings are situated, and to apply toward the
purchase price thereof any and all rentals paid to the United
States government, or agency, or bank or financial institution, or
individual, or persons, under the provisions of this act; and the
county commission shall pay to the United States government, or any
federal agency, or bank, or financial institution, or individual,
or persons, the yearly rental, or rentals, for the use and
occupancy of the building, or buildings, if and when they are
constructed, which yearly rental, or rentals, in the aggregate, may
not exceed the total amount, and the interest thereon expended by
the United States government, or agency or bank or financial
institution, or individual, or persons, on the project, or
projects, and the said yearly rentals shall be paid out of levies
laid within the constitutional debts limitations; and to do any and
all other things lawfully required by the United States government,
or any federal agency, or bank, or financial institution, or individual, or persons, which are necessary and proper to
effectuate the purpose of this act.
WVC 7-3-6 §7-3-6. Annual levy for rentals.
The said court shall levy and collect annually an amount
sufficient to pay said rental, or rentals, for that particular year
for the purposes aforesaid in the manner and form as provided by
WVC 7-3-7 §7-3-7. Bonds for cost of real estate and public buildings.
Any county court is likewise authorized and empowered to
acquire real estate for, construct, equip, furnish and maintain a
courthouse, hospital or other public buildings or jail including a
regional correctional center for either adult or youth offenders
which is developed jointly by one or more counties, and to borrow
funds from the United States government, the public works
administration, or other governmental agency authorized to make
loans, or any bank, or financial institution authorized by law to
make loans, or any individual, or persons for the purpose of
building, constructing, furnishing and equipping a courthouse,
hospital, other buildings or jail, and for the purpose of acquiring
real estate therefor, and shall have the right to acquire by
purchase, condemnation, gift or otherwise, real estate on which to
build the courthouse, hospital, other buildings or jail, including
a regional correctional center for either adult or youth offenders
which is developed jointly by one or more counties, within the
discretion of the court. Such county court is authorized and
empowered to issue bonds for the purpose of paying the cost of any
real estate, building, furnishing and equipment and to pledge a
sufficient amount of revenue within the constitutional limitations
and within the limitations as provided by general law, to pay the
principal of the bonds and the interest thereon, within a period
not to exceed thirty years. Such court is further authorized and
empowered to do and perform any and all acts and make all contracts necessary to effectuate the general purpose of this act, including
the acquisition, by original grant, gift, condemnation, or other
lawful means of real estate, and of all necessary permits,
easements and other rights in real estate, and title to and
possession thereof, or to make any purchase and acquisition with
the money borrowed, as provided in this act.
Such county court shall have authority, and is empowered, to
make contracts, agreements and covenants between it and the United
States government, or the public works administration, or other
governmental agency, or bank, or financial institution, or
individual, or persons for the loan of funds to said county court,
and securing payment thereof as they may be able to effectuate,
subject only to this limitation, that the bonds issued, or given as
security thereof, shall be payable out of the levies now provided
for by general law and by this act; to be levied by said county
court in and for the county; to acquire needed real estate, to
construct, equip, furnish and maintain a courthouse, hospital,
other public buildings or jail including a regional correctional
center for either adult or youth offenders which is developed
jointly by one or more counties, and to make and enter into
contracts, and to do and perform all acts as may be necessary for
the construction, equipment, operation and maintenance of the
courthouse, hospital, other buildings, jail or correctional center,
subject to any burdens, restrictions and encumbrances as it may be
necessary to incur and bear, in securing the bonds and the real estate construction, equipment and maintenance.
Bonds issued hereunder shall be exempt from taxation by the
state of West Virginia, or any county therein, or any district or
municipality thereof.
WVC 7-3-7a §7-3-7a. Bonds for construction or renovation of county jail or
regional correctional center.
The county commissions of the several counties are hereby
authorized to issue revenue bonds for the purpose of constructing,
reconstructing and renovating any jail facility used for county
prisoners or a regional correctional center for either adult or
youth offenders which is developed jointly by one or more counties;
and for the purpose of retiring the bonds, the county commission
may pledge for a period not to exceed twenty years, the funds
available to the county under the provisions of section fifteen,
WVC 7-3-8 §7-3-8. Creation and enforcement of lien of bondholders.
There shall be and there is hereby created a statutory
mortgage lien upon the real estate, buildings and property
acquired, constructed or built from the proceeds of bonds
authorized to be issued under this act, which shall exist in favor
of the holder of the bonds, and each of them, and to and in favor
of the holder of the interest coupons attached to the bonds, and
the courthouse, hospital, other public buildings, jail or regional
correctional center, and the real estate so acquired and used for
and in connection therewith, shall remain subject to the statutory
mortgage lien until payment in full of the principal and interest
of the bonds. Any holder of bonds issued under the provisions of
this act, or the holder of any coupons representing interest
accrued thereon, may, either at law or in equity, enforce the
statutory mortgage lien hereby created and conferred, and may, by
proper suit, compel the performance of the duties of the officials
of the commission as set forth in this act. If there be default in
the payment of the principal of or interest upon any of the bonds,
any court having jurisdiction in any proper action may appoint a
receiver to administer the property on behalf of the court with
power to charge and collect rents or income sufficient to provide
for the payment of the bonds and interest thereon, and for the
payment of the operating expenses, and to apply the income, rents
or other revenue in conformity with this act and the order
providing for the issuance of the bonds.
WVC 7-3-9 §7-3-9. Form and payment of bonds; use of proceeds of bonds.
Any county commission issuing revenue bonds under the
provisions of this article shall thereafter, so long as any such
bonds remain outstanding, operate and maintain said courthouse,
hospital, other public buildings, jail or regional correctional
center, to provide revenues sufficient to pay all operating costs,
provide a sinking fund for, and to retire such bonds and pay the
interest thereon as the same may become due. The amounts, as and
when so set apart by said county commission, shall be remitted to
the West Virginia municipal bond commission at least thirty days
previous to the time interest or principal payments become due, to
be retained and paid out by said commission consistent with the
provisions of this article and with the order pursuant to which the
bonds have been issued. The West Virginia municipal bond
commission is hereby authorized to act as fiscal agent for the
administration of such sinking fund under any order passed pursuant
to the provisions of this article, and shall invest all sinking
funds, as provided by general law. Revenue bonds issued under the
provisions of this article are hereby declared to be and to have
all the qualities of negotiable instruments. Such bonds shall bear
interest at the rate or rates set by the county commission, not to
exceed twelve percent per annum, payable semiannually, and shall
mature at any time fixed by the county commission, in not more than
thirty years from their date. Such bonds shall be sold at a price
not lower than a price which, when computed upon standard tables of
bond values, will show a net return of not more than thirteen
percent per annum to the purchaser upon the amount paid therefor. Such bonds may be made redeemable at the option of the county
commission at such price and under terms and conditions as said
county commission may fix, by its order, prior to the issuance of
such bonds. Revenue bonds issued hereunder shall be payable at the
office of the state treasurer, or a designated bank or trust
company within or without the state of West Virginia.
In case any of the officers whose signatures appear on such
bonds or coupons shall cease to be such officers before the
delivery of such bonds, such signatures shall, nevertheless, be
valid and sufficient for all purposes the same as if they had
remained in office until such delivery. The county commission
shall by order entered prior to the issuance of said bonds, fix the
denominations, times and places of payment of such bonds, the
principal and interest of which shall be payable in lawful money of
the United States of America. The proceeds of such bonds shall be
used solely for the payment of the cost of land, buildings,
furniture and equipment thereon, and shall be checked out by the
county commission under such restrictions as are contained in the
order providing for the issuance of said bonds. If the proceeds of
such bonds issued for any courthouse, hospital, other public
buildings, jail or regional correctional center, shall exceed the
cost thereof, the surplus shall be paid into the fund herein
provided for the payment of principal and interest upon such bonds. Such fund may be used for the purchase or redemption of any of the
outstanding bonds payable from such fund at the market price, but
at not exceeding the price at which any of such bonds shall in the
same year be redeemable, as fixed by the commission in its said order, and all bonds redeemed or purchased shall forthwith be
canceled, and shall not again be issued.
Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the county
commission may, under like restrictions, issue temporary bonds, or
interim certificates, with or without coupons, exchangeable for
definitive bonds upon the issuance of the latter. Such bonds may
be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any
other conditions or things than those proceedings, conditions and
things which are specified and required by this article.
WVC 7-3-10 §7-3-10. Limitation on character of debt incurred.
Nothing in this act contained shall be so construed or
interpreted as to authorize or permit any county court to incur a
debt for and on behalf of said court of any kind or nature contrary
to the provisions of the constitution of the state in relation to
WVC 7-3-11 §7-3-11. Powers conferred are additional.
This act shall be deemed to provide an additional and
alternative method for the doing of the things authorized hereby
and shall be regarded as supplementary and additional to powers
conferred by other laws.
WVC 7-3-12 §7-3-12. Liberally construed.
This act, being necessary for the health, welfare and public
requirements of the public of the several counties, it shall be
liberally construed to effectuate the purpose thereof.
WVC 7-3-13 §7-3-13. Limitation on amount of debt; increase of levies.
Notwithstanding the provisions of general law, any county
court authorized by this act to issue bonds, may become indebted
for the purposes in this act authorized, to any amount, including
all other indebtedness, up to but not exceeding five percent of the
value of the taxable property in such county as shown by the last
assessment thereof for state and county purposes next prior to the
authorization of such bonds, subject to the levy limitations as
provided in the constitution. For the purpose of effectuating the
provisions and purposes of this act and for the purpose of
obtaining revenue to pay said bonds and their interest, or for the
purpose of redeeming said bonds in whole or in part, such court may
and is authorized to increase the levies on each class of property
not to exceed fifty percent of the rates authorized by section ten,
article eight, chapter sixty-seven, acts of the Legislature, second
extraordinary session, one thousand nine hundred thirty-three, not
to exceed three years, and may submit to the voters of the county
the question of authorizing such increase, not to exceed three
years, at the same time and as a part of the scheme to issue said
bonds and provide for the payment thereof. Such increase of levies
shall not continue for more than three years without submission to
the voters, but the question of future levy increases for such
purposes may be again submitted to the voters.
Upon the question of issuance of such bonds, providing for the
payment thereof, the increase of said levies, at least sixty percent of the votes cast shall be in favor thereof, as provided by
WVC 7-3-14 §7-3-14. Authority to acquire and operate hospitals, clinics,
long-term care facilities and other related facilities; financing.
empowered to acquire by purchase or construction and to thereafter
own, equip, furnish, operate, lease, improve and extend a public
hospital, clinic, long-term care facility and other related
facilities, with all appurtenances, including the necessary real
estate as a site therefor. Any such county public hospital
acquired pursuant thereto may include a nurses home and nurses
training school. The county commission is further authorized and
empowered, upon acquiring a hospital, clinic, long-term care
facility or other related facility, to lease to others any or all
such facilities for such rentals and upon such terms and conditions
as the county commission may deem advisable. For the purpose of
paying all or any part of the costs, not otherwise provided, of
acquiring, completing, equipping, furnishing, improving or
extending such hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or other
related facility, the county commission is hereby authorized and
empowered by order duly entered of record, to issue and sell the
negotiable revenue bonds of such county, which shall be payable
solely and only from all or such part of the net revenues from the
operation of such county public hospital, clinic, long-term care
facility or other related facility as may be provided by said
order; and each such revenue bond so issued shall contain a recital that payment or redemption of the bond and payment of the interest
thereon is secured by the revenues pledged therefor, and that such
bond does not constitute an indebtedness of such county or the
county commission thereof within the meaning of any constitutional
or statutory limitation or provision. Such revenue bonds may bear
such date or dates, may mature at such time or times not exceeding
thirty-four years from their respective dates, may bear interest at
such rate or rates not exceeding twelve percent per annum, may be
of such denomination or denominations, may be in such form, may
carry such registration privileges, may be made subject to such
terms of redemption with or without premium, and may contain such
other terms and covenants not inconsistent with this article as may
be provided in such order. Such revenue bonds shall be exempt from
taxation by the state of West Virginia and the other taxing bodies
of the state. In determining the amount of revenue bonds to be
issued, there may be included any expenses in connection with and
incidental to the issuance and sale of bonds and for the
preparation of plans, specifications, surveys and estimates,
interest during the estimated construction period and for six
months thereafter, and a reasonable amount for working capital and
prepaid insurance. Such bonds may be sold in such manner, at such
times and upon such terms as may be determined by the county
commission to be for the best interests of the county: Provided,
That no bonds may be sold upon terms which will result in the net
interest cost of more than thirteen percent per annum computed to maturity of the bonds according to standard tables of bond values. There may be included in any such order authorizing the issuance of
revenue bonds such covenants, stipulations and conditions as may be
deemed necessary with respect to the expenditure of the bond
proceeds, the operation and maintenance of the county public
hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or other related
facility, and the custody and application of the revenues from such
operation. The holder of any bond or bonds may, by mandamus or
other appropriate proceedings, require and compel performance of
any duties imposed by law in connection with the hospital, clinic,
long-term care facility or other related facility, or any covenant,
stipulation or condition that may have been expressed in such bond
WVC 7-3-14a §7-3-14a. "Hospital," "clinic" and "long-term care facility"
The following terms whenever used in this article shall have
(a) The term "hospital" shall mean any general hospital,
chronic disease hospital, mental hospital and other related
(b) The term "clinic" shall mean any community medical clinic,
mental health center and other related facilities.
(c) The term "long-term care facility" shall mean any nursing
home, rest home, housing facility for aged citizens and other
related facilities.
WVC 7-3-15 §7-3-15. Board of trustees for hospital, clinic or long-term care
The administration and management of any county public
hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or other related facility
acquired, equipped, furnished, improved or extended under section
fourteen of this article shall be vested in a board of trustees,
consisting of not less than five members appointed by the county
court. Prior to the issuance of any bonds under the provisions of
section fourteen of this article, the county court shall appoint
two of such trustees for a term of two years, two trustees for a
term of four years, and one trustee for a term of six years from
the first day of the month during which appointed. Upon the
expiration of such initial appointments, the term of each new
appointee shall be six years, except that any person appointed to
fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for
which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed only for the
remainder of such term. Any trustee shall be eligible for
reappointment upon the expiration of his term. The trustees shall
receive no compensation for their services, but shall be reimbursed
for any expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Any
trustee may be removed by the county court for incompetency,
neglect of duty or malfeasance in office after an opportunity to be
heard at a public hearing before the county court. At the first
meeting of the board of trustees, and annually thereafter, it shall
organize by designating one of its members as chairman and by appointing a secretary who may, but need not, be a trustee: Provided, That the board of trustees shall designate a treasurer at
its first regular meeting subsequent to the effective date of this
Such board of trustees shall provide for the employment of and
shall fix the compensation for and remove at pleasure all
professional, technical and other employees, skilled or unskilled,
as it may deem necessary for the operation and maintenance of the
facility; and disbursement of funds in such operation and
maintenance shall be made only upon order and approval of such
board. The board of trustees shall make all rules and regulations
governing its meetings and the operation of the hospital, clinic,
long-term care facility or other related facility.
WVC 7-3-15a §7-3-15a. Transfer of moneys; treasurer for county hospitals;
bonding of treasurer; approval of bank accounts;
authority to invest.
The sheriff of each county shall remit to the board of
trustees of any county hospital all moneys in his possession held
on behalf of such county hospital, whether or not deposited in a
bank or depository unless the sheriff has been designated treasurer
of the county hospital as provided in this section. Such transfer
of funds shall be made as of the balances on hand on the thirtieth
day of June of the year in which the board of trustees of such
county hospital appoints a treasurer other than the sheriff, and
shall be completed no later than the first day of August of that
year. Such transfer shall be adjudged complete and final upon the
approval of the sheriff's official settlement for the fiscal year
ending on the thirtieth day of June of the year in which the board
of trustees of such county hospital appoints a treasurer other than
the sheriff, and, any minor adjustment made necessary by the
actually known figures shall also be made at that time. All
balances in all county hospital funds at the end of each month
after the thirtieth day of June of the year in which the board of
trustees of county hospitals appoints a treasurer other than the
sheriff, shall be transferred by the sheriff to the board of
trustees of such county hospital not later than the tenth day of
The treasurer for the board shall be the fiscal officer of the
board, or an employee commonly designated as the person in charge
of the financial affairs of the hospital board or the county sheriff. Upon appointment this person shall be titled and referred
to as treasurer of the county hospital. For the faithful
performance of this duty, he shall execute a bond, to be approved
by the board of trustees of such county hospital, in the penalty to
be fixed by such board, not to exceed the amount of funds which it
is estimated he will handle within any period of two months. The
premium on such bond shall be paid by the county hospital.
The board of trustees of such county hospital may open a bank
account, or accounts, as required to adequately and properly
transact the business of the district in a depository, or banks,
within the county. Such depositories, or banks, shall provide bond
to cover the maximum amount to be deposited at any one time. On
and after the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred
eighty-six, all levies and any other moneys received by the sheriff
and paid to the treasurer of such county hospital shall be
deposited in these accounts and all proper payments from such funds
shall be made by the designated depository or bank upon order or
draft presented for payment and signed by the duly authorized
signatories of the board of trustees: Provided, That in
determining the depository for county hospital funds a board member
who has a pecuniary interest in a bank within the county shall not
participated in the determination of the depository for such funds.
If it be deemed that sufficient funds are on hand in any
account at any one time which may be more than are normally
required for the payment of incurred expenses, such funds in the
amount so deemed available may be invested by the treasurer of the
county board with the state sinking fund commission, or in guaranteed certificates of deposit issued by the depository or
bank, or other guaranteed investments such as treasury bills,
treasury notes or certificates of deposit issued by either the
United States government or a banking institution in which federal
or state guarantees are applicable. Interest earned in such
investments is to be credited to the fund from which the moneys
were originally available.
For the purposes of this section "county hospital" means any
county public hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or other
related facility acquired, equipped, furnished, improved or
extended under section fourteen of this article.
WVC 7-3-16 §7-3-16. Operation with bonds outstanding.
So long as any revenue bonds remain outstanding under the
provisions of section fourteen of this article, the hospital,
clinic, long-term care facility or other related facility and all
appurtenances shall be operated and maintained on a
revenue-producing and self-sustaining basis; and the board of
trustees shall charge, collect and account for revenues therefrom
which will be sufficient to pay the interest on such bonds as the
same becomes due, to create and maintain a sinking fund to pay and
retire the principal at or before maturity, and to pay the costs of
operating and maintaining the hospital, clinic, long-term care
facility or other related facility. The order authorizing such
bonds shall definitely fix and determine the amount of the revenues
which shall be necessary and set apart in a special fund to pay
such interest and to pay and retire such principal; and all or such
portion of the balance of such revenues as may be necessary shall
be set apart in a special fund to pay the costs of operation and
maintenance of the hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or
other related facility.
WVC 7-3-17 §7-3-17. Construction.
The provisions of sections fourteen, fifteen and sixteen of
this article shall be construed as conferring separate and
additional powers as herein set forth and shall be deemed full
authority for the acquisition, improvement, extension, maintenance
and operation of the hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or
other related facility and for the issuance and sale of the bonds
by this article authorized: Provided, That all pertinent
functions, powers and duties of the state department of health
WVC 7-3-18 §7-3-18. Insuring of moneys collected by county officers.
Any county officer, who by the laws of the state of West
Virginia, is required to make collections of moneys for such
county, or other governmental agencies, may insure the moneys so
collected against loss by burglary and robbery, with any reliable
insurance company licensed to do business in this state, and the
county court may pay the premium therefor out of the general fund
of such county, and the insured shall be such county officer and
the county court of such county.