Bolivar Planning Commission Members:

• Helen Dettmer, President and Town Council representative

• Fred Fischer, Vice-president

  Fred Fischer, Vice-president

  Fred Ethan Fischer has lived in Bolivar for the last twenty years with his wife Ursula Nottnagel. They have three grown children who live within easy reach. Fred was born around here but went to high school in Pittsburgh. He studied engineering at Cornell University, earned a degree in English at the University of Pittsburgh, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. His varied careers include those of professor, poet-author, radio reporter, and actor-playwright. He teaches English and Creative Writing at Shepherd University and serves as editor of the magazine Antietam Review. He can be heard doing news on WRNR and mysteries on The Rumsey Radio Hour. His book Beached in the Hourglass was published by The Bunny and Crocodile Press.

  Fred has long been involved in community goings-on. He helped to create the Bolivar playground; he has taught children and adults to write poetry in county venues each spring and summer.

  Fred is proud to serve the town as a member of the Bolivar Planning Commission hoping to see our fine town stay the country community it has always been. He sees the development of the playground and the library's expansion project as steps in a good direction, and believes that Bolivar may become known more and more for its cultural events, such as the annual readings of acclaimed "WV Writers" at our library. He would like to see too the return of the nourishing Farmers Market.

  "Bolivar's our secret, yet one we like to share with visitors," Fred explains. "Our citizens, along with our dogs, cats and trees, realize how lucky we are."

• Brian Meley, Secretary

• Scott Biller

• Mary Haynes

  Mary Haynes

  Mary Haynes and her husband David moved to Jefferson County in 1966, bought a house on Union Street in Bolivar six years later, and raised their children there. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Mary was raised in Seattle and Des Moines, Iowa, and graduated from Drake University. A writer, she is the author of five children's books, as well as articles and reviews for adults. She also works as a writing instructor and freelance editor. She was one of Bolivar's representatives to the Public Library's first Board of Trustees and served as president for ten years.

  In the '70's, Mary occasionally attended Town Council meetings in a tiny, smoke-filled room in the old jail. Later, in the new Community Center, the chairs along the sides of the room were nearly always empty. In 1999, she says, "I came to a meeting where every seat was taken by enthusiastic and interested townspeople. Afterwards, a councilman looked around and said, 'I'm so happy to see all of you here. This is wonderful.'" Mary agreed, and joined the Citizen's Advisory Committee when it formed. She has been a Planning Commission member since July 2000.

  "Now Bolivar has a wealth of interested, active citizens who care about the community and its future. It's a pleasure to participate in this change. We need to work to protect Bolivar's vulnerabilities, preserve its strengths. The potential was always here and today Bolivar is blooming."

• Stephen Paradis

Bolivar Planning Commission Staff:

• Barry Bryan, Zoning Administrator and Building Inspector

• Laura Whittington, Town Administrator and Planning Commission Clerk

Bolivar Planning Commission Documents:

• Comprehensive Plan
• Zoning Ordinances
• Building Ordinances
• Killam and Ashbaugh Ordinances
• Land Use Map
• Policies and Procedures (building permits, instructions, application form, etc.)
• West Virginia State Code

West Virginia Links:

• West Virginia Planning Association
• West Virginia State Gov
• WV Legislature