SIGNING IT OVER — Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood, at left, talks with County Commissioner Paul Cowey, at right, during Monday’s county commission meeting, while Commission President Eron Chek signs the memorandum of understanding for operations of Chester’s municipal elections as County Administrator John Klee looks on. -- Craig Howell

NEW CUMBERLAND — Working ahead of the requirements under a law enacted earlier this year, Chester and the Hancock County Commission approved a memorandum of understanding Monday which would see the entities jointly conduct the city’s election.

As part of their regular meeting held Monday afternoon, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution to “jointly conduct the City of Chester’s Municipal elections with the county-run elections,” as well as the formal memorandum of understanding.

The agreement would begin with the primary election set for May.

“We certainly appreciate the county’s cooperation,” Chester Mayor Ed Wedgewood said, explaining the move is an attempt to get an early start on meeting the regulations of Senate Bill 50, which was approved by the West Virginia Legislature in April and signed into law by Gov. Patrick Morrisey.

“With an election coming up soon, it’s important to get it done,” Wedgewood said, explaining Chester Council has enacted a charter change as part of the process of establishing a new election schedule for the city. “We got all that done.”

Under Senate Bill 50, any city, town or village whose charter requires elections have until July 1, 2032, to adjust their election schedule to fall in line with elections already conducted by their local county.

Under the terms of the law, “Municipalities are required to share in the administrative costs of holding elections with county commissions, but those costs shall not exceed the municipality’s pro rata share of voters registered in the municipality compared with the total voters registered in the county.”

Municipalities also can adjust the terms of their current office-holders as part of the rescheduling, provided any extension not be by more than 18 months.

Commission President Eron Chek thanked Wedgewood and City Clerk Tara Ayers for the city’s work in addressing the requirements of the new law.

“We look forward to the collaboration,” Chek said, offering appreciation to the efforts of the County Clerk’s Office for its part in the process.

“You did that pretty fast,” she said, addressing County Clerk Karan Valenti during Monday’s meeting. “You must have a good template.”

Three municipalities in Hancock County have elections for positions, including mayor and council.

Weirton realigned its election schedule as part of a 2019 charter change, putting the majority of its election operations under the umbrellas of the county clerks in Hancock and Brooke counties.

Those changes also lined up Weirton’s municipal election with the presidential election.