Brooke County officials anticipate Gov. Justice’s visit

WELLSBURG -- Anticipation of a visit to Brooke County later this week by Gov. Jim Justice and new equipment for first responders were among matters before the Brooke County Commission on Tuesday.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said Justice is slated to visit Friday, at a time to be announced, to make an announcement regarding an upcoming project of the Hammond Public Service District.

Thomas noted the commission has allocated nearly $1 million in federal pandemic relief funds for the project, which involves the replacement of about 13,900 feet of water lines and refurbishment of the district's four water tanks.

The commissioners also accepted a bid of $79,966 from Tactical Night Vision Inc. of Loma Linda, Calif., for eight night-vision goggles and related equipment for the Brooke County Sheriff's Department.

Reimbursement for the cost is to come through a grant from the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security.

Sheriff's deputies involved in the grant's applications said the goggles can be used by the department's special response team and in search and rescue efforts for missing people, adding they can be shared with other local law enforcement agencies.

Jeff Luck, deputy director of the county's ambulance service, noted the last of three ambulances purchased with pandemic relief funds has arrived.

Supplied by PennCare Inc. of Niles, Ohio, and manufactured by Medfix Specialty Vehicles, the 2023 Ford E350 is easily the newest vehicle used by the ambulance service, with fewer than 500 miles on it, said Luck.

He estimated $180,000 is the overall cost for the vehicle and its equipment, including a hydraulic lift that allows a stretcher to be raised into the back with the press of a button.

Capable of lifting up to 700 pounds, the lift is one of five added to the county's fleet of ambulances in recent years to reduce physical strain on emergency medical personnel, Luck noted.

Andy Nickerson, the county's ambulance director, noted the vehicle is the latest effort to replace aging ambulances with newer models, each bearing a similar design and the green and gold colors associated with Brooke High School.

"It's nice to get our fleet updated with new, more reliable vehicles," he said.

Plans call for the new ambulance and others in the fleet to be kept under one roof at a new, central ambulance station to be built near the intersection of Pleasant Avenue and state Route 2 at Wellsburg's north end.

The commission recently broke ground for the structure, and crews with the Waller Corp. of Washington, Pa., have begun preliminary site work for the $2 million project.

The commission recently advertised for the removal of trees along an embankment between the building's lot and the highway to improve visibility for approaching drivers.

The move was made with the consent of the West Virginia Division of Highways, which owns the strip of land.

County Commissioner Stacey Wise said it's likely that construction won't begin until the trees are removed.

The commissioners also:

— Agreed to advertise for a sport utility vehicle to be used by the county's dog warden and deputy dog warden.

— Heard from Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty, who reminded them of the need for new computers and software used by the county's tax department.

The commission has tabled the request, citing a need to determine the carryover from the county's previous fiscal year.

— Reappointed Mike Vitello to represent the county's industry sector on the Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board.

— Accepted the retirement of Sheriff's Deputy Tim Robertson, whose 20 years in law enforcement included stints as a school resource officer and Follansbee police officer and followed his service in the military.

— The Rev. Brian Knight, pastor of Wellsburg Church of the Nazarene, introduced the Rev. John Keener, a Brooke County native who will be serving the church as family pastor.