Brooke County 911 center dealt with phone issue

911 DISCUSSED — The Brooke County Commission Tuesday received an update about issues which affected the county’s emergency 911 center over the weekend. While the problem has been addressed, Christina White, the center’s director, has stressed those with an emergency should call 911 instead of the center’s non-emergency number. -- Warren Scott
WELLSBURG — An equipment failure temporarily affected the Brooke County Emergency 911 Center’s ability to receive calls to its non-business number, the Brooke County Commission learned on Tuesday.
Christina White, the center’s director, said a disruption to a router served by Comcast on Saturday afternoon resulted in callers to the non-emergency number being unable to hear the center’s dispatchers, though the dispatchers could hear them.
White said to address the problem, a cell phone was rigged to receive all calls to the center, emergency or otherwise.
It’s not the first time the fix was used to address a disruption in service, though past interruptions occurred with another telephone service provider.
White said the problem is linked to a router serviced by Comcast and she has been attempting to arrange for a technician from the company to tend to the equipment.
She said it’s not unusual for a resident to dial the center’s non-emergency number when faced with a crisis, but everyone should always dial 911 in an emergency.
White said even if the Brooke County center is experiencing difficulties, another local 911 center will receive the call and ensure local assistance is provided.
In other business:
• Brooke County Sheriff Rich Beatty offered clarification regarding a change in his department’s rotation for towing services in emergency situations.
Beatty said the policy calls for a minimum of three towing companies to be included in the rotation, all from within the county unless there is not a county-based towing service available.
He said because one of the three asked to be removed from the rotation and no other local towing services were available, he has added Nick’s Towing in Weirton to the rotation, which includes CJ’s Towing of Wellsburg and Ballato Brothers of Follansbee.
Beatty said in the past the sheriff’s department has called upon Nick’s tow heavy vehicles.
The sheriff said he will be meeting with the three soon to discuss the new rotation and the expectations for each.
• Jim Andreozzi, the county’s dog warden, reminded residents to bring their pets inside during the current stretch of freezing temperatures.
Andreozzi said he recently delivered warnings to several owners of animals, and they appear to have complied.
A county ordinance prohibits dog owners from leaving them tethered outside when the temperature is less than 32 degrees Fahrenheit or greater than 90 degrees or during other severe weather.
Violators may be fined between $100 and $500 or have their dogs taken by the county.
The cities of Follansbee and Wellsburg have similar ordinances prohibiting animals from being kept outside in extreme weather.
A former county commissioner and dog warden, Andreozzi was recruited to temporarily reprise the latter role following the resignation of Jaetin Popish, who left to serve as a Brooke County sheriff’s deputy.
The commissioners were slated to interview candidates for dog warden following Tuesday’s meeting.
• The commission lamented the recent death of Alberta Colley, who was 86. A former president of the Wellsburg Art Association, Colley organized art shows at Bethany College and the Brooke County Public Library and designed the county seal.
Green and gold, the colors for Brooke High School, are prominent in the seal, which notes the county’s founding in 1797 and includes images related to the coal and steel industries that played a large role in the county’s development.
Commission President A.J. Thomas said of Colley, “We want to thank her for giving us something we will have forever.”
• The commissioners reappointed Terry Bonaventura to the Brooke County Public Service District board. They are expected to fill two seats on the county’s board of health next week.
Letters of interest may be submitted to the office of County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta at the county courthouse.
• Barbetta announced the courthouse will be closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.