DAVIS, W.Va. — One of the biggest employers in Tucker County is shutting down.
Miners at Mettiki Coal’s Mountain View Mine learned today they are being permanently laid off and the mine is to be closed.
According to a WARN notice provided to the Tucker County Commission by the company, 199 workers will lose their jobs in the closure. They layoffs will take effect April 1st.
The company gave no reason for the action, but leaders say it will be an economic blow.
“It’s one of the major employers of our county where people that work there can actually make a living with the benefits and the wages and actually raise a family here. It’s devestating for our county,” said Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau.
Rosenau added the shutdown will also be costly to Grant County. The mine entrance is in Tucker County, but some of the coal reserves are in Grant County and represent coal severance tax revenue for each county.
“That’s the only coal mine left in our county and that’s a sad thing,” he said.