911 BOARD DISCUSSED — The Brooke County Commission, Tuesday, discussed the pending creation of an advisory board for the county’s emergency 911 center. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commission had made plans on Tuesday to meet with candidates for a planned advisory board for the county’s emergency 911 center, but inclement weather and work commitments kept most from attending.

Commissioners did, however, touch on how they expect the volunteer board to look and function.

County Commissioner Tom Diserio said the board will be comprised of the 911 director, as a non-voting member, and five others, including representatives from firefighting, law enforcement, emergency medical services, the county’s emergency management agency and a county official.

It’s unclear whether the latter must be a county commissioner or another county official. In the past, the sheriff has served on the board.

Diserio said he envisions the board exploring long-term goals for the center, while its director focuses on its day-to-day operations.

He said the advisory board formed for the county’s ambulance service in recent years has been very efficient, and he sees it as a good model for the 911 board.

Brooke County had a 911 advisory board in the past, but it became inactive.

Earlier this year, Franklin Community Fire Chief Gerald McClain noted it must be reinstated to comply with state code.

Since then, the commission has received letters of interest from several people with experience as emergency first responders.

They are: Mike Loborec, deputy director of the Brooke County Emergency Management Agency; Micah Knisley, a Wellsburg police officer; Jeremiah Lucas, a Brooke County ambulance squad member; Lt. Dawson Kemp of the Franklin Community Fire Department; Bethany Fire Chief Edward Stough; John Schwertfeger, a Follansbee councilman and former Brooke county ambulance director; and Capt. Kyler Ferguson of the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department.

The commission on Tuesday heard from Schwertfeger and Ferguson, who each noted that in addition to other roles they have held in emergency first response, each also has worked at times in the 911 call center.

Christina White, the county’s emergency 911 director, suggested all of the potential candidates visit the center to learn more about its present operations.

“I think the 911 board will be a huge benefit to the county, but I encourage everybody to visit the center and see how it works,” she said.

Diserio noted White has overseen the center’s move from a small area adjacent to the sheriff’s department to the former judge’s chambers and other space used by court staff before the county’s judicial center was completed.

He said she also was involved in many technological upgrades to it.

In August, White announced her retirement following 23 years with the center, including 17 as a dispatcher.

On Tuesday, the commissioners noted they are continuing to accept applications for the position as well as a more recent opening for a full-time dispatcher for the center.

Also open is a seat on the commission that will become vacant with the departure on March 1 of A.J. Thomas.

Thomas, who also works as an attorney, said he wants to spend more time with his young children.

The commission has until March 2 to fill Thomas’ seat with a resident of the Follansbee Magisterial District who also is a registered Republican voter, as Thomas is.

But any state-recognized political party also has until that date to nominate a candidate for the seat in next year’s general election.

The move involves the general election because Thomas will be leaving after the filing period for the May primary election.

If such a nomination is made, the person appointed by the commission will serve through December 2026, after which the winner of the general election will take over.

If there is no nomination, the person appointed by the commission must seek election in the 2027 primary election if he or she wishes to finish out Thomas’ six-year term.

Thomas’ second term began this year.

Letters of interest in the commission seat may be sent to the office of county Clerk Kimberly Barbetta up to Jan. 15.

The commission also will accept, for two weeks, letters of interest in a seat on the Brooke Hills Park Board, including from the current member whose term is up soon.

In other business, county Commissioner Stacey Wise said forms pertaining to the quarantine and seizure of an animal who has bitten a person will be reviewed by the commission next week.

Wise said the forms are intended to formalize the protocol currently followed by the county’s humane officer, providing documentation for the parties involved.

Caitlin Wood, one of the county’s two humane officers, said such animals are quarantined and observed for at least 10 days to determine whether they have rabies.

State law allows an animal control or law enforcement officer to seize, without a court order or warrant, an animal deemed vicious or dangerous.

It states animals may be destroyed if they are found to be suffering from rabies.

State law also requires the owners of dogs to have their pets vaccinated against rabies.

Also on Tuesday, Diserio said the West Virginia Division of Highways “often gets a bad rap during inclement weather, but I assure you every truck and plow they have were on the roads this morning.”

Diserio said it took some time to clear local roads because snow continued to fall through the morning rush hour, and roadways were quickly covered again after they were plowed.

He said to ensure fast response to accidents on U.S. Route 22, an ambulance crew was moved to the Follansbee Fire Department from the county’s ambulance station at the north end of Wellsburg.