County Recreation Fee Generates $419,733 for EMS in 2025

Tucker County's controversial 2 percent recreation fee, intended to fund local EMS services, generated $419,733 in 2025, according to county officials. Despite the collections, compliance remains an issue, with only 108 of 750 businesses having remitted payments. EMS Director Amanda Simmons stated that these funds are crucial for staffing and operations, preventing the closure of one of the county's two EMS stations. The future of the recreation fee is in jeopardy due to a federal lawsuit filed by Timberline Mountain against the Tucker County Commission. The court recently denied the county's request to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the legal challenge to proceed. Separately, a deregulatory law enacted by the West Virginia legislature to attract data centers has generated significant interest from developers. Chris Morris, Director of the Data Economy Office, appointed by the governor, indicated that while the legislation has drawn legitimate companies, it has also attracted entities seeking a "quick buck." Morris outlined criteria for state certification as a "microgrid district" or "high-impact data center," including sufficient capital, power availability, and proximity to sensitive sites like schools and residences. Fundamental Data, a Virginia-based company with no known track record in data center development, is seeking certification for a proposed facility in Tucker County. Amy Margolies, Executive Director of Tucker United, a local opposition group, expressed concerns about Fundamental Data's secrecy, leading to an "adversarial relationship" with the community. Despite a recent report from the Charleston Gazette-Mail claiming Fundamental Data had filed certification paperwork with the West Virginia Department of Commerce, both a Commerce Department spokesman and a Fundamental Data spokeswoman confirmed that no such application has been received.