Lewis County commissioners appointed three new members to the Building Commission, replacing those who resigned after it was learned that they had been improperly appointed.

Richard Hiserman, Charles Stalnaker and Tracey Weber III were sworn in during Monday's meeting. Stalnaker's term will expire in February 2011, Hiserman's in February 2012 and Weber's in February 2013.

They replace Bob Stutlz, who resigned because of his holding an office with the Lewis County Democratic Executive Committee, and Richard Bonnett, who resigned because of his holding an elected position, that of conservation district supervisor.

State law prohibits government elected officials, government employees and those holding an office with a political party's executive committee or those being an employee of a political party from being a member of the building commission. The building commission is one of the few politically appointed organization that has certain state code requirements. The building commission is the county's agency that can borrow funds over a long term for construction purposes. The County Commission cannot legally carry a debt for more than one year.

The group also replaces Willadean Bennett, who resigned earlier this month because of family constraints.

The newly formed Lewis County Building Commission will meet at 7 p.m. today at the Emergency Medical Squad building in Weston to formally organize and to review an application to the State Historic Preservation Office. That application is required because a proposed courthouse annex is being built in Weston's downtown historic district and could mean the demolition of the Arnold-Edwards House. That home was reported the dwelling of frontier author Alexander Scott Withers, who wrote "The Chronicles of Border Warfare." The book contains stories from the region's earliest days, telling of the battles settlers faced with Native American tribes over the land.

The Weston Historical Landmarks Commission has taken no official stance on the demolition of the building, although many of its members are upset over the possible destruction of the house. The building, which needs at least $250,000 in repairs and renovations, is the home of the West Virginia University Extension Service office.