May 19, 2016 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A new tourism and communications director was hired Thursday to replace Elizabeth Menhart, who left the position last month for another job.

JoAnne Marshall, a Waynesburg native who was a marketing and branch director for the YMCA in Bristol, Va. before returning to the county in 2014, was hired at a salary of $34,500.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Greene County and look forward to helping to communicate what we have here to attract tourists,” Marshall said following the county salary board meeting

Greene County has many unique features, she said, citing as examples, its covered bridges and Rain Day.

“I’m sure you can’t find a Rain Day anywhere else,” she said.

Marshall, 32, is a 2001 graduate of Waynesburg Central High School. She received a degree in photography and digital imaging from the Virginia Intermont College in Bristol. Marshall is currently employed as a secretary in the tourism office.

She will have the same duties as Menhart, which include handling communications for the county and the commissioners and coordinating and developing efforts to promote tourism. She is the half-sister of county chief clerk Jeff Marshall.

Menhart left the county last month to accept the position of marketing coordinator at the First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Greene County.

Marshall was hired during the county salary board meeting that followed the Greene County commissioners’ regular meeting.

During the regular meeting, the commissioners approved a contract with Pennoni Engineering for $69,500 to complete engineering and design work for the second phase of the airport project.

Pennoni will do the engineering work for a section of road within the airport property from the new intersection at Route 21 and Murtha Drive to an area east of the administration building and for a new parking lot that will be built east of the administrative building. The work is part of the plan to open up airport property fronting Route 21 to commercial development.

The commissioners awarded a contract for the replacement of the roof on the Carmichaels pool house to LL Roofing of Lower Burrell, which submitted a low bid of $37,448.

The commissioners agreed to contribute $15,000 to the Corner Cupboard Food Bank. The county makes an annual contribution to the food bank.

The commissioners agreed to hire Delta Development for $1,500 a month to seek grant funding for court-related programs.

Delta assists the county in grant writing and grant solicitation and was helpful in obtaining money for the airport project, Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said.

“There are grant opportunities out there, you just have to take advantage of them,” Commissioner Dave Coder said.

The commissioners approved an agreement to pay $700 to the Graysville Volunteer Fire Co. for a construction easement for a bridge the fire company owns that will be used when the county replaces the nearby county bridge on Church Lane in Graysville.

Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said the fire company bridge will be inspected to make sure it is up to standard for the public’s use.

The county’s and fire company’s bridges cross a small stream and provide access to the fire hall, a church, a coin laundry and several houses.

The commissioners voted to begin condemnation proceedings for another property in relation to the project owned by the Cameron Lumber Co., which operates the laundromat. The county was unable to reach agreement with the company on the property, Marshall said.