Greenbrier Commission approves Optimum franchise renewal, considers updates to zoning ordinance

By Autumn Shelton, RealWV

LEWISBURG, W.Va. – Altice USA (DBA Optimum) may receive a five-to-10-year extension of their cable franchise in Greenbrier County, now that members of the County Commission have approved the company’s franchise renewal request. 

During Wednesday’s Regular Meeting of the Greenbrier County Commission, commissioners approved Cebridge Acquisition, LLC/Altice USA’s (Optimum) franchise renewal application, which allows the company to maintain and operate its cable system throughout the county on public rights-of-way. 

According to Commission President Tammy Tincher, a public hearing was held prior to the meeting regarding the franchise renewal. Only one person representing Optimum (Cebridge Acquisition, LLC/Altice USA) was present. 

Before the franchise renewal application can be finalized, it must undergo legal review and is subject to final negotiations. 

In other Commission business: 

• Commissioners approved a FY 2025-2026 Records Management & Preservation Board grant application for a total of $5,669. If the grant is received, it would be used to purchase additional file cabinets to house fiduciary paperwork. The grant is offered every year through the WV Division of Culture and History. 
• Commissioners recommended Sarah Woody, from the Greenbrier County Health Department, for appointment on the Greenbrier County Solid Waste Authority. This appointment would fill Mike Eltzroth’s seat. 

“We thank Mr. Eltzroth for his commitment to the Solid Waste Authority,” Tincher said. “He has served a significant amount of time, and we recognize and appreciate that.”

• Commissioners approved three separations of employment (Audrianna Mace, Monica Jones, Ariel Ellis) from the Greenbrier County 911 center. 
• The BHM CPA Group was awarded a contract to conduct a single audit for 2023-2024. “We are required to go through a single audit every year at this point because we do receive over $750,000 from the federal government,” Tincher stated. “We have done that for quite a while now.” 
• Following an executive session, commissioners agreed to provide a letter of communication to the Greenbrier Planning Commission to proceed with next steps on their proposal to update the county zoning ordinance in regard to the current status of the Greenbrier County Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission held two public hearings in October regarding the adoption of a new zoning ordinance. The proposed ordinance may be found at www.greenbriercounty.net, or below.