State fire funds, prosecutor recognition before Brooke Commission
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WELLSBURG -- The Brooke County Commission Tuesday learned the amount of state funds it will receive for local fire departments and was asked to consider naming an area of the county's new judicial center for a longtime county prosecutor.
Current Brooke County Prosecutor Joseph Barki suggested honoring David B. Cross, noting he was the longest serving county prosecutor in West Virginia when he retired after 35 years.
Anthony Filberto, Cross' brother-in-law, noted he had worked with former chief probation officer Jim Lee in establishing alternative sentencing programs, from electronically monitored home confinement to day report centers, where those convicted of crimes may undergo counseling and court-ordered drug testing.
He said such efforts were typical of Cross, who always sought the potential in everyone he encountered.
Barki offered to pay for a plaque recognizing Cross, adding it could be placed in the conference room of his future office, but the commissioners may wish to select a more public area.
"I just wanted to acknowledge David B. (Cross) for all he's done for me and all he's done for the county," he said.
The commission is expected to consider an area for Cross' recognition at a future meeting.
Following the meeting, Commission President A.J. Thomas said crews are proceeding with minor exterior work on the 33,000-square-foot judicial center but most of the remaining details are within the three-story building.
Asked when the center may open, Thomas said an emergency generator, needed to power backup lights and other security measures in the event of a power outage, isn't expected to arrive until October and the building can't be used until it's installed.
The county's circuit, magistrate and family court facilities, probation department and prosecutor's office are slated to move into the center, with other county departments to remain in the existing, adjacent courthouse.
A lack of space there and a need for updated security measures were cited as reasons for the new building.
The magistrate courtroom in the judicial center has been designed to serve a circuit court trial, with a full jury box, to allow two trials to be scheduled there at the same time.
McKinley Engineering and Architecture of Wheeling is the architect and Rycon Construction of Pittsburgh is the general contractor for the $12.8 million project, which is being supported by the sale of bonds.
The commissioners also learned its portion of state funds issued for local fire departments will be about $36,728.
Thomas said the commission has been advised to treat the money as it would for a grant and closely follow the guidelines set for it.
The West Virginia Legislature agreed in a special session in August to allocate $3 million for fire departments in high-population areas, $3 million for departments supported in part by county levies and $6 million for the state's remaining departments.
The allocations are seen as a one-time distribution of extra lottery funds, and the commissioners hope state legislators next year will establish more permanent funding to address rising costs for equipment and training for the county's volunteer fire departments.