‹ Back  |   Print

§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.

§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.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the 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 commission.

§7-3-2a. County commissions to purchase and display flags.
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 manufactured in the United States.

§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 Class II legal advertisement in compliance with the provisions of article three, chapter fifty-nine of this code, and the publication 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.

§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 demolished.

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 in the following form:

PETITION
CONVEYANCE OF COUNTY PROPERTY
AND/OR
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)

NAME ADDRESS DATE

_____________________ ____________________ ___________

_____________________ ____________________ ___________

(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)

/ / YES / / NO

(Place a cross mark in the square opposite your choice.)"

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.

§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.

§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.

§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 law.

§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.

§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, article five of this chapter.

§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.

§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.

§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 debt.

§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.

§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.

§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 general law.

§7-3-14. Authority to acquire and operate hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other related facilities; financing.
The county commission of any county is hereby authorized and 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 order.

§7-3-14a. "Hospital," "clinic" and "long-term care facility" defined.
The following terms whenever used in this article shall have the following meanings:

(a) The term "hospital" shall mean any general hospital, chronic disease hospital, mental hospital and other related facilities.

(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.

§7-3-15. Board of trustees for hospital, clinic or long-term care facility.
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 section.

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 hospital, clinic, long-term care facility or other related 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.

§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 following month.

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.

§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.

§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 shall remain in effect.

§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.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session