A LIFE-SAVING DONATION — Representatives of MPLX, an affiliate of the Marathon Petroleum Corp., presented two automated external defibrillators for the Brooke County Courthouse at Tuesday’s Brooke County Commission meeting. On hand were, from left, county commissioners Tom Diserio, A.J. Thomas and Stacey Wise; Jeff Luck, deputy Brooke County emergency services director; Tina Rush, David DeVaughn and Jeremy Dennison, all of MPLX; and Jason Nickerson, Brooke County emergency services director. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Efforts to secure rights of way for a sewer project, the anticipated departure of County Coordinator Adrienne Ward and approval of a tax for patrons of local hotels were among matters before the Brooke County Commission on Tuesday.

The commission earlier agreed to allocate $1 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to the county for the extension of sewer lines to about 178 customers in the St. John’s Road area.

It is among a handful of water and sewer projects the commissioners have supplemented with $4.2 million in ARPA funds received by the county.

The estimated $5.9 million project also will be supported by a $4.4 million 30-year loan and a $500,000 grant, both from the state Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council.

It is a continuation of earlier projects by the Brooke County Public Service District that provided wastewater treatment to more than 600 homes and businesses on Eldersville Road, Mahan Lane and many side lanes and in the Cross Creek area, including Brooke High School and adjacent areas.

On Tuesday, the commission approved the first drawdown, in the amount of $12,000, for the project.

But County Commissioner Stacey Wise said it has been delayed somewhat by residents who have failed to grant rights of way for lines to cross their properties.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said one problem may be some property owners have received larger payouts for the extension of natural gas lines through their land.

Such easements may have raised expectations of what they may receive from the nonprofit public service district, he noted.

Wise said the cooperation of such property owners is needed to enable the PSD to move on to other local sewer line extensions.

“Everyone shares in the cost throughout the entire county,” she said.

Ben Erste, a community planning specialist from the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission assisting the Brooke County PSD, said engineering designs are complete and the PSD hopes later this month to have acquired the number of easements required to move forward with the project.

Future steps will include advertising for a contractor to build the lines.

BHJ Executive Director Mike Paprocki also was on hand to request $5,000 from the commission to update a five-year hazard mitigation plan for Brooke and Hancock counties, noting the Hancock County Commission had granted the same amount.

Such plans outline policies and measures designed to reduce the impact of future disasters, such as floods.

Each county is required to have one to be eligible for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which also provides grants for the plans.

Paprocki noted until recently, the state paid the local matches needed for the grants but now requires it of the counties, despite his appeal to state officials to reconsider.

While expressing dissatisfaction with the state’s position, the commissioners agreed to contribute $5,000 toward the match.

Also on Tuesday, Adrienne Ward announced her resignation as county coordinator after serving in the position for eight months.

Ward said while she is sorry to leave Brooke County, she couldn’t pass up a chance to work for the U.S. Economic Development Administration in a role that will involve development throughout the state.

The commissioners thanked Ward for her efforts, which have included obtaining a $13,858 grant from the state Department of Arts, Culture and History for shelving to store birth, death and marriage records at the courthouse.

Thomas noted Ward also has applied for a grant to establish a small park in the vacant lot beside the Brooke County Senior Center.

The commission agreed to advertise for a new county coordinator.

The ad posted for the position last year stated its duties would include helping to develop and maintain the county’s budget, attending commission and other meetings, preparing and administering grants and reports and assisting office staff with general inquiries and day-to-day operations.

It also stated the county coordinator would be responsible for the county’s employee policies and procedures manual and assisting other department heads with questions and continuity, social media and website postings and Freedom of Information Act requests and enforcement of ordinances for dilapidated buildings and litter control.

Also on Tuesday:

• The commission agreed to adopt a 6 percent tax on the overall stays of patrons of hotels and bed and breakfasts in the county.

It was made at the request of Rachel Keeney, director of the Top of West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau, who said revenue from the tax will be split between the agency and the county and used to promote tourism.

The city of Weirton and Hancock County have their own such tax for such establishments within their boundaries.

• Representatives of MPLX, an affiliate of the Marathon Petroleum Corp., presented two automated external defibrillators for the Brooke County Courthouse’s first and third floors.

They allow individuals without medical experience to safely administer an electric shock to heart attack victims. They measure the person’s heart rhythm and determine if a shock is needed and are posted in many public places with instructions for their use.

Jeff Luck, the county’s deputy director of emergency services, said an AED was posted earlier on the courthouse’s second floor near the health department.

• The commission agreed to hire Jatin Popish as the county’s new full-time dog warden and Abigail Pelletier as assistant dog warden and assistant director for the county’s animal shelter.

Among several applicants for the dog warden position, the two stood out because of their experience in training police dogs, said Thomas.

Interim County Dog Warden Jim Andreozzi thanked the commission for including him and Shelter Director Donna DeJaro in the interview process. The commissioners thanked him for his service until the position could be filled.

• The commission tabled the hiring of a consultant to update the county’s personnel policy manual, pending review of three proposals received for the task.

• The commission approved a $175 monthly maintenance agreement with Otis Worldwide for elevators at the courthouse and those being installed at the judicial annex under construction.

• It was announced the courthouse will be closed Monday for Presidents Day.