MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission eliminated a fire protection contingency fund and heard concerns about a local home shelter during the commission’s meeting Wednesday in Morgantown.
The fund was established in October 2024 following the creation of the All-County Fire Protection Fund and the County Fire Protection Fund by state lawmakers.
Local firefighters took issue with the fund because the Morgantown Fire Department, not considered a county volunteer fire agency. was included in the distribution, and commissioners established a contingency fund. The contingency fund that would hold a percentage of the funds with the county in case of a major expense incurred by a local volunteer fire department.
The issue came to a head during the May 13 commission meeting when secretary of the Volunteer Fire Association Jason Todd made a request of about $37,000 to make repairs to the county tanker.
“This is not what that contingency fund was created for. It was created in case a volunteer fire department ended up in a financial burden where they could request that money. You guys came out to Cassville’s Fire Department, two of you did, and discussed how that money would be used and what we had to do as the association to get that money released—sending in minutes and a request,” Todd said during the meeting. “It was not agreed upon to use that money to fix the county tanker. That was the responsibility of the county commission. If we keep using it for stuff that it’s not intended for, it won’t be there if we need it.”
Commissioners approved a request Wednesday for $16,218.95 for communications equipment, followed by a motion by Commissioner Sean Sikora to dissolve the fund. The commission voted 3-0 to dissolve the current fund and divide future disbursements from the state evenly between the 12 volunteer fire departments and the Morgantown Fire Department.
“It’s been a contentious issue since we established it, so I would like the fund to be adopted,” Sikora said. “So, I would like to move to rescind the policy adopted October 9, 2024, creating the contingency reserve.”
Sikora summed up the frustration on the commission and formally agreed to distribute future funds from the state equally and eliminate any safety net for future expenses.
“It’s taken up a lot of our time to deal with this account, and there are no winners,” Sikora said. “The commission is routinely lambasted about the fund, and the Monongalia Volunteer Fire Association isn’t happy with the fund, so it’s best that we turn the fund over when we get them.”
Rainbow House complaint
Commission President Tom Bloom read a piece of correspondence into the record from a resident regarding the Rainbow House on Scott Avenue.
The Rainbow House is the designated shelter for the LGBT community and has had issues in the past. The founder and director, Erin Shelton, was arrested in December of 2025 at the facility and charged with obstructing law enforcement with threats of harm. Court records indicate Shelton entered into a guilty-plea agreement this week. Details of the agreement were not available at press time.
“I realize homelessness is a severe issue impacting the state of West Virginia and definitely should be supported and addressed,” Bloom said. “This organization has made strides in that, but I fear in some instances I feel it is enabling and not truly helping.”
In 2024, commissioners also called for an investigation into de-escalation and safety protocols, and from a one-year period beginning in December of 2024, dispatchers handled 488 911 calls regarding the facility.
“There have also been many instances not involving 911 but have involved people that are seemingly actively using drugs and/or mentally handicapped,” Bloom read from the letter. “People are walking, lying, or sitting in the middle of the road, on the side of the road with syringes left as litter.”
Commission President Bloom read the correspondence into the record and said the email was also directed to the executive director of the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness, Zach Brown. A request for comment from Brown has not yet been answered.