POINT PLEASANT — Mason County Commissioners are currently brainstorming ways to secure funding for improvements at the Mason County fairgrounds.

During Thursday’s meeting, former fair board members, who are still active in the fair, updated commissioners on the condition of the fairgrounds. They said that the facilities were in need of updates and that the main building, which is often used for storage in the winter, is in desperate need of a new roof.

Commissioners agreed that something needed to be done to fix the roof as well as other conditions in order to maintain safety on the grounds. County Administrator John Gerlach said that he spoke with State Sen. Karen Facemyer regarding the issue, and she said that she was not sure what funding she could get for the grounds and that the county probably could not receive funding until December.

According to the Gerlach, the commission can ask the legislature for eight-10 projects, and they only asked for one this year, which was funding for the maintenance of the fairgrounds facility. During the meeting, Commissioner Rick Handley called Commissioner of Agriculture Gus Douglas’s office to see what else could be done to solve the issue. Handley reported that Douglas was out of the office, but will return his call Monday.

A possible funding option would be to set up a building commission to finance the project, Gerlach said. However, before doing this the commission would need to assure that they could still receive grant money if this was done. Commissioners agreed to continue working to secure funding for the maintenance.

In other business:

• Commissioners unanimously approved for Phyllis Arthur of New Haven to fill the library member position recently held by Lois Bumgardner starting July 1.

• Commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Keith Shin to the Solid Waste Authority Board and the approval of Morty Gilley to the board.

• Commissioners unanimously approved the salvage yard application.

• Barry Pearson of the Leon Volunteer Fire Department addressed the commission about getting a boat with built in GPS capabilities, which would be utilized in water rescue. Commissioners agreed to look for funding of the boat, which would be used county-wide.

• During the July 16 commission meeting the commission will contemplate the adoption of an authorizing resolution for Pleasant Valley Hospital. A public hearing will be held on the resolution prior to the commission meeting at 3:15 p.m.

• Commissioners discussed the need for the state to declare emergency on the bridge at the Brooke Haven sub-division in Point Pleasant. According to Gerlach, the goal is to get an emergency declared through the state of emergency services that will allow the Department of Highways to come in and fix the bridge.

The bridge’s safety in holding fire apparatus has been questioned as well, Gerlach said.

• Gerlach reported that work crews will be at the fairgrounds and West Virginia State Farm Museum on Monday. Each crew contains eight workers and one supervisor.

• Commissioners unanimously approved to foam paint the roof of the Letart Community Center.

• Commissioners unanimously approved to put blacktop sealer on the walkway to the courts at the Baden Community Center.

• The meeting adjourned at 4:50 p.m.

The next meeting will be 4 p.m. Thursday, July 16.