W. Va. Code § 19-21-28
The board of supervisors shall not have the right to enter upon or appropriate any land for right-of-way, or other works of the districts, until the price awarded to the owners of such land by the commissioners shall have been paid to such owners or into the hands of the circuit clerks of the courts organizing such districts for the use of such owners; and if the sums awarded be not so paid within five years from the date of filing the commissioners' reports, all proceedings as to the taking of such property for rights-of-way and other works not so paid for shall abate at the cost of said district. Whenever any land is acquired by any district under the provisions of this article and the price of such property has been paid the owner by the district, the title, use, possession and enjoyment of such property shall pass from the owner and be vested in the district, and subject to its use, profit, employment and final disposition. The price awarded for all land acquired by any district for rights-of-way, or other works, and the amount of damages assessed by the board of appraisers and confirmed by the court to any tract or parcel of land or other property in the district shall be paid in cash to the owner thereof or to the clerk of the court for the use of such owner, and that portion of any tract or parcel of land or other property not taken for the use of the district shall be assessed for the benefits accruing in accordance with the provisions of previous sections of this article.
W. Va. Code § 19-21-28