Last week the WV Tax Department of Revenue filed the Tentative Natural Resource Valuation Variables for tax year 2015 for public comment. The variables are used to appraise coal, oil, gas, managed timberland and other natural resource properties for property tax purposes. These proposed variables will be open for comments until August 1, 2014, with the final variables to be filed on September 1, 2014. Copies are available upon request from the Association office.
WVCA member Jackson Kelly PLLC announced, effective July 1st, the Evansville, Indiana law firm of Rudolph, Fine, Porter and Johnson, LLP, had elected to merge its 20 person practice with them. Rudolph, Fine, Porter and Johnson LLP was founded in Evansville in 1987 and serves clients in the Indiana-Kentucky-Illinois region in the areas of litigation, mediation, estate planning and administration, corporate, health care, banking, employment and real estate law. Jackson Kelly had opened an office in Evansville with three attorneys in 2011. The office is located in downtown Evansville, at 221 NW Fifth Street, Evansville, Indiana 47706-1507.
TechConnect West Virginia honored its founding Chairman, Russ Lorince, at a recent Board meeting. Russ had served as Chairman of TechConnect from its formation in 2006 until February of this year. Russ is currently the Vice President of External Affairs for Arch Coal’s Eastern Operations and is quite active with the Association, serving as an alternate on our Board of Directors and Executive Committee, as well as on a variety of our committees. Russ worked for Allegheny Energy for 25 years, as Economic Development Director for West Virginia University before being named to his current position with Arch Coal.
ECSI has opened its newest office in New Martinsville, WV, which is strategically located in northern West Virginia to serve the needs of mining, oil and gas clients. A highly skilled staff of engineers, geologists, surveyors and environmental professionals will be available for a wide range of projects. Williamson, WV office personnel will be working from ECSI’s Pikeville, KY and New Martinsville, WV locations.