MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission approved the purchase of the former Salvation Army property Wednesday morning, finalized preparations for employee health insurance transitions, and heard emotional appeals about local food insecurity during its regular Oct. 29 meeting.

The meeting opened with standard consent approvals, including routine financial vouchers totaling more than $1.4 million, minutes from prior sessions, and fiduciary orders. Commissioners also accepted a recommendation from Fiduciary Commissioner Ryan Umina to deny a longstanding creditor claim tied to the estate of Ivan B. Browning Jr.

Two new full-time employees were introduced: Jackson Straley as a court security officer in the sheriff’s department and Caylin Salmon as a care coordinator at the Youth

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