OFFERING THANKS — Christina White, director of 911 services in Brooke County, spoke at Tuesday’s Brooke Commission meeting after announcing her plans to retire from the position. A search will be conducted for a new director. -- Craig Howell

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commissioners are looking for a new director for the county’s 911 Center after current 911 Director Christina White announced her plans to retire from the position she has held since December 2019.

White, who has been a full-time employee of the county for 23 years, including 17 years as a dispatcher, credited her career to the late Bernie Kazienko, who had served as sheriff and commissioner in the county.

“In 1998, Bernie Kazienko took a chance on a little girl from Rabbit Hill,” White said.

Commission President A.J. Thomas offered thanks to White, in particular for the last six to seven years as she’s overseen the operations of the 911 center, including various upgrades in technology, working with others to improve radio communications throughout the county and the relocation of the 911 Center itself.

“What can we say, other than we don’t want you to go?” Thomas said.

White called the work of emergency responders rewarding, but challenging, noting they often are there for a person’s worst day.

“We are all here to serve our citizens,” she said, emphasizing the difficulty in finding people to fill those roles. “If anyone is interested and wants to help others, this is the place to be.”

Commissioner Stacey Wise thanked White, saying White has offered to be on hand to assist whomever is hired as the new director.

“We really tried to talk her out of it,” Wise said.

In other business Tuesday, commissioners approved White’s request to hire Danielle Nicole Feist as a full-time dispatcher, with a start date of Sept. 1.

Commissioners also approved an in-house budget transfer of $135.16, representing a refund, for EMA and ambulance services, approved a report from Fiduciary Commissioner Erica Cross Conti disallowing claims against the estate of Mark P. Kowcheck, tabled cancellation of the county’s contract with Cintas Corps. until a delivery date for new rugs is received and withdrew a proposal from Sheriff Rich Beatty to provide a $2 an hour raise for an administrative assistant in his department.

Beatty said the decision came at the request of the employee following conflicts with other staff members.

“Against my better judgement, I’m going to do that, but only because she asked me to,” Beatty said.

Commissioners also heard from Jason R. Rine and representatives of Brooke County’s 4-H programs, who spoke about their summer activities, and from Rachel Keeney, executive director of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, who presented the tourism agency’s annual report.