BROOKE COUNTY RETIREES — The Brooke County Commission Tuesday recognized four longtime employees who retired this year, from left, Bob Fowler, Brooke County director of emergency management and emergency medical services; Florence Long, a circuit court clerk at the county courthouse for 23 years; Susan Malson, a clerk in the tax department for 20 years; and Rich Arthurs, a sheriff’s deputy with 32 years in law enforcement. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commission Tuesday approved the hiring of two key emergency officials and recognized the service of four longtime employees who retired this year.

Christina White was named director of the emergency 911 center, a position she’s held in an interim capacity since September.

A dispatcher at the center for 17 years, she has been working with other officials to improve radio reception for emergency responders at the county’s south end by moving a transmitter from a county-owned tower near Apple Pie Ridge Road to a higher one in the area owned by the Ohio County Commission with that board’s cooperation.

White said she’s looking forward to overseeing replacement of the center’s computer consoles and relocation of the center when the planned judicial annex is completed.

Jeff Luck was named deputy director of the emergency management agency, which plans preparation and response to communitywide emergencies and supports the efforts of other local emergency departments in addressing smaller emergencies.

A Cleveland native, Luck came to Brooke County through marriage and has worked in the county’s ambulance service as a paramedic since 2012.

Prior to that, he studied at Kent State University, serving in its ambulance department; and served the Cleveland Heights Fire Department for five years and the Ellis County Emergency Medical Service in Kansas for 12 years.

He currently is a member of the Franklin Community Volunteer Fire Department.

Luck will serve under Andy Nickerson, who was promoted recently from deputy EMA director to director following the retirement of Bob Fowler. Fowler agreed to remain as deputy director until the position was filled.

He was among the four retirees recognized by the commission. The others were Florence Long, a circuit court clerk at the courthouse for 20 years; Susan Malson, a clerk in the county’s tax department for 20 years; and Rich Arthurs, a sheriff’s deputy with 32 years in law enforcement, including working as a corrections officer, 911 dispatcher and Wellsburg policeman.

Fowler had headed the EMA since 2008. In 2012, when John Schwertfeger retired as the county’s ambulance director, the two positions were merged.

As EMA director Fowler worked with fire and police officials in responding to a handful of major floods, a severe ice storm and other emergencies.

He also arranged for generators providing sufficient energy, in the event of a power outage, to support the pumping of water to thousands of people in Wellsburg and outlying areas and secured a variety of specialized equipment, including a portable emergency shelter with capacity for 80 people and portable decontamination unit for first responders exposed to hazardous materials.

Commission President Tim Ennis told the four, “You did your jobs with grace and eloquence. Just the professionalism you’ve shown Brooke County is something we appreciate.”

In other business, the commission opened letters of interest in the planned judicial annex from four firms: IKM Inc. of Pittsburgh, McKinley and Associates of Wheeling, Silling Architects of Charleston and the Thrasher Group of Bridgeport, W.Va.

Ennis said qualifications submitted by the four will be reviewed by the commission’s building committee, which will meet Jan. 6, for recommendation to the commission.

The commission also agreed to accept letters of interest in a seat on the Brooke County Public Service District board with a term to expire soon. The letters may be submitted to the office of County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta.

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