NEW CUMBERLAND – Months after discussing whether to take oversight of the county’s recreation system themselves, Hancock County commissioners, Thursday, approved the appointment of two new members to the Hancock County Board of Parks and Recreation.

As part of Thursday’s commission meeting, the appointments of Liz Lundberg and Bernie Virden were unanimously approved, making them the newest members of the board.

“I think both are tremendous assets to the county,” Commissioner Tommy Ogden said.

The appointments are part of an ongoing process to expand the board’s membership.

Commissioners, last fall, took measures amend the board’s bylaws, including a move to expand membership to 11 to fall in line with existing state law.

Previously, county bylaws included requirements of between five and seven members for the Park Board.

“We need to have 11. This should bring us to 10,” Commissioner Paul Cowey said.

Traditionally, the Hancock County Park Board has been tasked with the management of Clarke Field Playground in Newell, Cove Valley Park along Kings Creek Road north of Weirton, the Gas Valley Sports Complex and Playground in New Cumberland and Lawrenceville Park in Chester.

To be eligible to serve on the board, an applicant must be resident of the county

Earlier this year, the county commission discussed the possibility of dissolving the board, with some expressing concern as to the proper care of the parks overseen by the board and the methodology used in the disbursement of county hotel and motel tax revenue, a portion of which must, by law, be put toward recreation.

The proposal, eventually, was denied, leaving the current volunteer board in place.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)