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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission met Monday to re-organize for the 2021 year, though two had to participate by phone because they either have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or advised to self-quarantine.
Commissioner Tim Ennis said he's recovering after being diagnosed with COVID-19, while Commissioner Stacey Wise said she "was in COVID jail" but had no symptoms of the virus.
Wise said their absences were for the safety of the public, and Ennis said he hopes he will be able to return to the county courthouse next week.
Last week's commission meeting was canceled due to those circumstances.
County Commissioner A.J. Thomas conducted Monday's meeting and was named president of the board for the 2021 year by his fellow commissioners. Thomas thanked Ennis for leading the commission during the last eight years, and he and Wise appointed Ennis president pro-tem.
Other appointments included Ennis to the county emergency medical service, museum and library boards, the county planning commission and community corrections board; Thomas to the Brooke County Committee on Aging, Brooke Hills Park board, Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle; and Wise to the West Virginia University Extension committee, Northern Panhandle Workforce Investment Board, Northern Panhandle Home Consortium board and the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau board.
All three will serve on the local emergency planning commission.
No appointment was made to the county's economic development authority by the commissioners, who said that board may be re-organized in the future.
In related business, Wise asked whether the commission should temporarily disband the county's dilapidated structure committee, but it was suggested the commission could table filling seats on the inactive volunteer board.
Wise noted the commission has hired a part-time inspector of dilapidated structures, illegal salvage yards and overgrown grass in conjunction with the county's solid waste authority.
Thomas said the commission will continue to review complaints of such conditions and hear appeals from affected property owners.
The commissioners also discussed filling the position of county surveyor since no one sought it in last year's election. They have invited letters of interest through the county clerk's office but have received no response.
Thomas said interest in the seat is scarce because there's no salary while it must be filled by a licensed surveyor though that individual's skills are seldom required by the commission.
Ennis suggested approaching the Hancock or Ohio county commissions about sharing one.
In other business, the commission:
¯ Welcomed Rich Beatty, who entered the office of Brooke County sheriff this week after being elected to the position last fall.
Beatty attended the meeting with Scott Adams, who will continue to serve as chief sheriff's deputy, a role he assumed under former sheriff Larry Palmer.
¯ Lamented the loss of Frank Ferrari of Wellsburg, who died Saturday at age 80; and Lorraine Paesano, who died on Dec. 29 at age 92.
The commissioners remembered Ferrari as a caring community member, active in civic groups, and strong supporter of Brooke County Special Olympics, for which he requested memorial contributions.
They noted Paesano was married for 69 years to Tony Paesano and supported him in such roles as Follansbee mayor, president of the city's chamber of commerce and Brooke County school board member.
Memorial contributions to the Anthony Paesano Scholarship Foundation are welcomed by her husband and family.
(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)