Brooke County judicial center opening eyed for January
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WELLSBURG -- While work on Brooke County's new judicial center is nearly completed, it appears likely it won't be in operation until early next year.
A.J. Thomas, president of the Brooke County Commission, said equipment and materials belonging to the county's magistrate court, particularly its many files, fall under the jurisdiction of the West Virginia State Supreme Court.
He said because of that, their relocation from the county courthouse to the new building is slated to fall under the supervision of personnel assigned by that court, and that's not expected to happen until late this year.
At their regular meeting Tuesday, the commissioners had been asked about the building's opening by Terry Stuck, the county's chief probation officer.
Currently located in another building on Charles Street, the probation department is slated to move into the judicial annex with the circuit, magistrate and family courts, presently in the courthouse; and the prosecutor's office, which has operated for many years from the Cross Law Office.
A lack of space in the courthouse has been cited as a key reason for the new facility, which is being financed through the sale of $15 million in bonds.
In recent weeks staff have discussed disposing of unneeded files before making the move. It was noted the magistrate court must comply with the State Supreme Court's regulations for the disposal of such material.
The other courts fall under the county's jurisdiction.
Completion of the judicial center, which is adjacent to the courthouse at Main and Sixth streets, had been delayed by the delivery of a backup generator for the building. But Thomas said the generator has arrived and has been installed, needing only to be tested.
In other business, the commission accepted a bid of $28,000 from Elite Ambulance Sales for a 2005 Chevy Kodiak that has been retired by the Brooke County Sheriff's Department, which had used it as its crime scene investigation unit for many years.
The bid was the highest of three received for the vehicle.
County Clerk Kim Barbetta also announced the courthouse will be closed Friday in observance of Veterans Day, which falls this year on Saturday.