Palmer submits his resignation as Brooke County sheriff

WELLSBURG -- Tthe Brooke County Commissioners Tuesday maintained their position on the county's school resource officers while indicating plans for a natural gas fired power plant in the county are still possible.

The commissioners also accepted the resignation of Sheriff Larry Palmer, effective Sept. 8.

After negotiating with county school officials over a contract for the school resource officers, the commission tabled a new agreement proposed by the school district without comment.

They and Superintendent Jeffrey Crook confirmed outside the meeting that the proposal called for the commission to assume costs for the five officers' benefits, a cost the commissioners estimated at $240,000.

During the meeting retired teacher and coach Paul "Bud" Billiard encouraged the commissioners to support the continued presence of sheriff's deputies in five schools.

A Wellsburg police officer has been serving the sixth school.

"Brooke County is known for taking care of the kids. The kids always come first," Billiard told the commission, adding the officers are needed for many reasons but most of all, to provide security in the event of a crisis.

"This is an issue that can't be overlooked. This can be solved, and I feel you can do it," he said, adding, "I know right now we need these officers in the school, and I think you can make it happen."

But County Commissioners A.J. Thomas and Stacey Wise reiterated the officers were hired and trained with the understanding they would be funded from $1.4 million allocated in the school district's five-year levy for safety and security.

Wise said when school officials approached them for an officer in each school, she and other county officials stated they couldn't afford to pay about $450,000 needed for them.

Carl Frankovitch, an attorney representing the commission in the matter, said school officials have asked for the officers to be paid by the school board according to the time they spend in school.

School officials have noted the officers weren't needed in the schools when the pandemic caused state officials to close them three months early this year and it's possible that schools could be closed again this year.

Wise said she's sympathetic to the board, which is faced with a $3.2 million shortfall from the levy.

But she and Thomas said levy funds were allocated for the officers, which were a selling point for voters, and allocating county funds for them, if it were possible, would amount to double taxation.

"To shift the cost to another agency isn’t the proper thing to do," Wise said.

Commission President Tim Ennis, who participated by phone, said he can't envision the commission doing the same thing for one of its departments or agencies.

But he said while he's "a little troubled" by the school board's recent proposal, he believes both sides want the same thing and is hopeful they can work things out.

In other business, Thomas said the state Economic Development Authority is expected to consider a loan guarantee for the planned power plant at a special meeting on Sept. 9.

Developers pursuing financing for the project have asked the board for an agreement calling for the state to assume the debt for a $5.6 million private loan they hope to secure for it.

The commissioners raised concerns about the plant's future when it was removed from the agenda of a recent EDA meeting. Thomas and others recruited state legislators, leaders of trade and industrial groups and others to push for its support.

Officials with Brooke County Power, an affiliate of the Energy Solutions Consortium, have said the plant's construction will generate more than 1,000 jobs.

The company also has entered into in lieu of tax payments of $433,000 per year to the county and $167,000 per year to the school district.

Thomas said news the economic development board is reconsidering the matter has caused him to be much more optimistic about the plant's future.

The commissioners also met Monday with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., to encourage support for it.

In other business, the commission accepted the resignation of Sheriff Larry Palmer, effective Tuesday.

In his fourth year in the office, Palmer was defeated in the primary election by Democratic challenger Kevin Heck, who will face Republican challenger Rich Beatty in the Nov. 3 general election.

He had served as a sheriff's deputy Palmer served as a sheriff's deputy for 21 years and in the Bethany Police Department for 24 years, 21 of them as chief.

Palmer, who is leaving to pursue other opportunities, said he will remain involved in emergency service as a member of the Franklin Community Fire Department.

Ennis told Palmer he's enjoyed working with him , adding, "You've been dedicated to the job, your officers and the county."

Christina Alexander, director of the county's emergency 911 center, said she "didn't realize how much the sheriff did until I worked with Larry."

Chief Sheriff's Deputy Scott Adams, said Palmer "genuinely cared about the guys and did his best to take care of them."

The Rev. Brian Knight, who has served as a chaplain to the deputies, said he welcomed the opportunity to offer counsel to them and also enjoyed working with Palmer.

Thomas said the commission has 30 days in which to name a new sheriff and hasn't made a final decision yet. He said state or county policy doesn't identify a specific successor in such cases.

The commissioners also noted the upcoming retirement of Pam Northcraft, county election clerk for 13 years and announced a seat on the Hammond Public Service District board is up for renewal.

Those interested in filling the seat should submit a letter of interest to the office of County Clerk Kim Barbetta at the county courthouse.