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Brooke family court to return to courthouse

WELLSBURG – Brooke County Commissioners said Tuesday the county’s family court will be moving back to the county courthouse.

The commissioners said details of the move are being worked out, but there’s been talk of relocating the court to the training and conference room on the first floor. The room once was shared by the court and the county’s magistrate court.

Commission President Tim Ennis said the board is in talks with officials with the state Supreme Court, which must approve accommodations for the court.

The family and magistrate courts were moved to the third floor of the Progressive Bank building on Charles Street following the 2004 flood. But in recent years the commission has learned that area of the building, which is separate from the bank’s first floor lobby and offices, doesn’t comply with the state fire code.

The commission is seeking funds to expand the courthouse, using space currently occupied by two unoccupied houses adjacent to the courthouse, to allow both courts to return to the building.

It has accepted a bid of $26,455 submitted by Pusateri Excavating of East Liverpool to raze the Charnock house and Pertko house, both owned by the commission.

The commissioners recently were presented confirmation of a $25,000 state grant for the demolitions secured by Dels. Randy Swartzmiller and Ronnie Jones, both D-Hancock, and Del. Phil Diserio, D-Brooke.

Commissioner Jim Andreozzi said a start date for the demolitions hasn’t been set.

In other business, Brooke County Sheriff Chuck Jackson said he expects deputies to be involved with traffic control during a planned power outage affecting the north end of Wellsburg Saturday.

Mon Power spokesman Allen Staggers, who was called for comment, said the outage will occur from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. so crews can make repairs to a substation in that area.

Staggers confirmed the outage will affect traffic signals and streetlights in that area of state Route 2.

The outage will affect about 1,000 customers from 10th Street north, including but not limited to, the lower portions of Rabbit Hill and Skull Run roads, Commerce Street (state Route 2), Pleasant Avenue and Charles Street from 10th Street north, Valley View Drive, Brinker Road and White Bell Circle.

Staggers said the company didn’t schedule the outage to occur overnight because daylight is needed for the crews to safely perform the repairs, which involve the replacement of parts used to regulate the level of voltage entering homes.

In the event of rain, the outage will be moved to Oct. 19 during the same hours.

Mon Power officials said an attempt will be made to notify all affected customers by phone. Those with questions should call (800) 686-0022.

In other business, the commission:

Heard from County Clerk Sylvia Benzo who said the first day of early voting in the county’s special election won’t be Oct. 26, as announced, because that is a Saturday. She said a new start date for early voting will be announced.

Approved the replacement of steel fire doors at the bottom of the courthouse’s stairwell by Tom Brown Contracting at a cost of $3,220.

Approved the hiring of Kalie Ferguson as a part-time employee at the county’s animal shelter.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)

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