Brooke County commissioners advertise new position, discuss infrastructure
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission has agreed to seek an individual to assist it with various tasks and discussed funding challenges faced by local public service districts.
An advertisement for a county coordinator was among matters on the commission's agenda Tuesday morning.
Prepared prior to the meeting, the ad describes the position's duties as including providing support to the commissioners, helping to develop and maintain the county's budget, attending commission and other meetings, preparing and administering grants and reports and assisting office staff with general inquiries and day to day operations.
It also states the county coordinator would be responsible for the county's employee policies and procedures manual and assisting other department heads with questions and continuity, social media and website postings and Freedom of Information Act requests and enforcement of ordinances for dilapidated buildings and litter control.
After a motion was made to accept the ad, commissioners A.J. Thomas and Stacey Wise were asked why there had been no discussion of the position's creation at earlier meetings, the position's salary and whether it had been included in the county's recently approved budget.
Wise said the duties outlined in the ad could be discussed at that time.
She and Thomas said the salary would be negotiated with a suitable candidate.
"We don't know what salary ranges are for the person who would be the right fit," said Wise.
Thomas added the commission may choose not to fill the position if no suitable candidates are found.
He said the position hadn't been included in the budget.
In response to concerns the position hadn't been discussed in a public meeting, Thomas said, "If there's a question of whether this is the appropriate motion, I want to err on the side of caution."
At his suggestion, Wise made a motion first to create the position, then to advertise it.
Thomas and Wise said addressing dilapidated structures and litter is a major concern for them.
They said related ordinances, which have been enforced by a part-time staff member in the past, need to be strengthened in order to be effective.
"There are areas that are blighted and we need to address them," said Thomas.
He said the commission has received numerous complaints of littering, which are justified.
Thomas noted volunteers have stepped forward to collect the trash "but it should never come to that."
Wise said the county coordinator would support the efforts of the commission and other county officials.
"We have 16 boards we're sitting on. We're working every night just to keep these balls in the air," she said.
County Commissioner Tim Ennis, who didn't attend the meeting, couldn't be reached for comment.
The commission has set no deadline for applications for the position, which requires a bachelor's degree, five years of progressive management experience or five years of relevant experience, strong computer and budgeting skills, strong interpersonal skills, record keeping skills, an ability to understand and carry out detailed instructions and excellent verbal and written skills.
Applicants are to send a letter of interest and resume to Wise at swise20@yahoo.com.
In other business, the commissioners said they have met with the boards of local public service districts and federal and state lawmakers and their representatives to discuss funding problems.
Wise said the Hammond Public Service District has been awarded a $4.6 million grant by the Army Corps of Engineers but it falls short of $6 million needed by the district.
She added the grant requires a 25 percent match that can't be filled with federal funds.
Thomas said while the commission was awarded $4.25 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds, the money can be exhausted very quickly by the cost of new water and sewer lines.
He said the Hammond district has experienced extensive line breaks and leaks. He said that's partly because of their age and partly because they weren't installed at the proper depth, which has resulted in their being damaged by seismic tests performed for natural gas drilling.
Wise said the cost for public service districts to expand to unserved areas is presenting a potential financial burden on existing customers.
She said without a remedy to the current situation, "We're going to hit a wall."