CHARLESTON, WV – The governor of West Virginia Tuesday ordered a review of state contracts with a nonprofit social services agency whose director posted a racist comment on Facebook last month about First Lady Michelle Obama.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin acted after it was reported Pamela Ramsey Taylor, director of the Clay County Development Corp., will be allowed to return to work from her suspension next week.

Taylor created a controversy when she posted this message on Facebook a week after Donald Trump’s presidential election victory: “It will be refreshing to have a classy, beautiful, dignified First Lady in the White House. I’m tired of seeing a Ape in heels.”

Clay Mayor Beverly Whaling responded to the posting: “Just made my day Pam.” She promptly resigned after the blowup over the contentious comments.

Both postings were deleted but screen shots of them circulated widely on social networks, resulting in a storm of protest across the country. An online petition calling for the removal of both officials generated more than 200,000 responses.

The development corporation provides Clay County with senior services and financial assistance to elderly and low-income residents. It is supported by state and federal grants amounting to more than $1.8 million annually and local fees.

“The state of West Virginia vehemently opposes any discriminatory and harassing sentiments, language or actions,” Governor Tomblin said in a statement. “We have been and continue to review (state) contracts to determine any alternatives the state might have.”

He said the state Bureau of Medical Services and Bureau of Senior Services has requested the corporation provide copies of its affirmative action and anti-harassment policies as well as assurances Taylor has not discriminated against recipients of social services.

Clay County suspended Taylor from her position shortly after her Facebook posting, but announced four days ago she would be returning to her job Dec. 23, according to a letter obtained by the Charleston Gazette-Mail from the agency’s acting director.

The corporation’s board had indicated earlier they would consider Taylor’s final fate on the basis that her statement “was made outside of the agency on a personal social media post on personal time” and that she had been verbally reprimanded and suspended for her comments.

Outrage over Taylor’s reinstatement reverberated around West Virginia and on social media postings. Mercer County Commission Greg Puckett told the Bluefield Daily Telegraph that Taylor should have been fired.

“Statements like that have no place in the workforce of an agency that receives public funding,” said Puckett. “In my mind, it would be grounds for immediate dismissal.”

Sparsely populated (9,300) Clay County is located in central West Virginia. Trump received more than 75 percent of the votes in the county and more than 68 percent in the state.