SECURITY, ROAD ISSUES AT HAND — Plans to seek a grant for additional cameras at the county’s judicial center and concerns about local roads were among matters before the Brooke County Commission on Tuesday. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commission agreed Tuesday to seek funds for additional cameras at the county’s judicial center and heard concerns about the condition of local roads.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said the panel will apply for up to $50,000 from the state Courthouse Security grant program to purchase additional interior cameras that can pan, zoom and tilt as needed and related computer software.

Thomas said since the building opened last year, it’s been discovered more cameras are needed and some existing ones will be moved to better suit the court facility’s needs.

The judicial center is home to the county’s circuit, magistrate and family courts, the prosecutor’s office and probation department.

The commissioners also heard from David Dulaney, a resident of St. Johns Road, who expressed concern that a vehicle could veer off the road near Walker Manor and into a pump station crews installed during the latest phase of the Eldersville Road sewer project.

Dulaney noted the equipment sits at least 10 feet below the road’s edge, and he asked for guardrail to be installed there.

Thomas said the commission will approach district officials with the West Virginia Division of Highways with the request.

The Rev. Brian Knight expressed concerns about the condition of local roads, particularly Washington Pike.

“It’s bad. Anybody who’s been up and down there — it’s bad,” said Knight, who added the road is riddled with potholes in many places.

Thomas said with the exception of an area near the Pennsylvania state line, Washington Pike (also known as state Route 27) is in dire need of patching.

He said, though, the commission has learned there are no plans to resurface it this year.

Thomas said the commission will continue to push for patching and paving, but district officials with the WVDOH have little control over the resources that are allotted to them by the state Department of Transportation.

Following the meeting, Thomas said while state legislators allocate funds to the state Department of Transportation, they also appear to have little say in where it is spent.

During the meeting, county Commissioner Tom Diserio said he has appealed for repairs to Route 27 using a request form available to the public through the West Virginia Department of Transportation’s website.

It can be found at https://webapps.transportation.wv.gov/swat/

In other business, the commission:

• Agreed to seek bids for the paving of the open lot remaining from the demolition of the Colony Center.

The commission purchased the two-story building last year for $50,000 to create additional parking for the judicial center.

The commission also agreed to seek bids for a pole barn to store equipment along the Brooke County Pioneer Trail.

• Accepted a letter of resignation from Susan Phillips from the county’s ambulance authority, a volunteer board that oversees the county’s ambulance service.

The commissioners expressed thanks to Phillips, who also has served on the Brooke County Committee on Aging, which oversees the county’s senior center.