Background of West Virginia’s Regional Councils
and Region VII Planning and Development Council
The West Virginia Legislature established regional councils on November 3, 1971 by passing the West Virginia Planning and Development Act, which sets forth the responsibilities of state and local governments in guiding the orderly growth and development of the state. The act recognizes that problems of growth and development go beyond the jurisdiction of municipalities and counties, and that regional intergovernmental cooperation is needed to solve common problems. In May of 1972, the Governor certified the division of the state into eleven (11) planning and development regions.
Local elected officials have the basic responsibility for making the regional council an effective and productive organization. By law, 51% of a regional council’s members must be elected officials, such as mayors and county commission presidents. As such, each county and incorporated city and town in the region is represented. The remaining 49% of the council is comprised of private sector individuals, as appointed by the elected officials. As policy-setters and decision-makers, council members establish priorities, objectives and goals.
The regional council staff is the administrative arm of the organization. It is the responsibility of the staff to carry out the various functions established by the council.
Members governments are mandated to pay a regional council assessment dues, which are based on the population of the jurisdiction. These dues make up part of the regional council’s basic funding. The regional councils are designated Economic Development Districts (EDD’s) by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration and Local Development Districts (LDD’s) by the Appalachian Regional Commission. Both of these federal agencies provide other basic funding to the regional councils to provide technical and other such assistance to member governments.
The Region VII Planning and Development Council, geographically, encompasses Barbour, Braxton, Gilmer, Lewis, Randolph, Tucker and Upshur Counties. The municipalities that are represented on the Region VII Council are: the City of Philippi, City of Belington, Town of Junior, Town of Sutton, Town of Burnsville, Town of Flatwoods, Town of Gassaway, City of Glenville, Town of Sand Fork, City of Weston, Town of Jane Lew, City of Elkins, Town of Beverly, Town of Coalton, Town of Harman, Town of Huttonsville, Town of Mill Creek, Town of Montrose, City of Parsons, Town of Davis, Town of Hambleton, Town of Hendricks, City of Thomas, and the City of Buckhannon.
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