| By Bob Weaver
One of the area's leading employers is apparently leaving Calhoun County.
Key Energy has declined to comment on the moving of its Arnoldsburg facility.
Company head Gary Olliff of Charleston would not confirm how the move would affect their 140
employees who have not been officially notified that the drilling company is moving to Kanawha
County.
Several of the employees are from Calhoun, but most are reportedly from Gilmer, Roane and
Jackson.
Employees have heard that Key is not renewing their property lease along U.S. 33-119, which belongs to
Ron Lane's business enterprises at Arnoldsburg.
The five year lease expires next month. They would vacate the site by August.
It is unclear how many employees will be affected or job losses that could be created.
Employees are saying Olliff wants the move because of quicker access to an interstate highway and the
company's customer base. The new site is near I-77 at Sissonville.
When Key moved to Arnoldsburg five years ago, they were reportedly enticed by the "more than fair"
lease given to them by Lane.
Key has frequently moved their operations, most recently from Glenville and Ripley.
Key is based in Midland, Texas and has 8,000 employees world-wide. The company says it offers clients
the most comprehensive and advanced array of onshore energy production services available from a
single company.
The company has an annual revenue of $1 billion.
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