INVOLVEMENT SOUGHT — The Brooke County Commission has adopted an application for organizations seeking funds awarded to the county through a statewide opioid lawsuit and is seeking volunteers to help consider such requests. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The Brooke County Commissioners hope to form a volunteer board to aid them in determining the use of funds awarded to the county from a statewide lawsuit against makers and distributors of opioid prescriptions.

During the last two years, the commission has received about $1.1 million, a portion of funds awarded to each of the state’s 55 counties from a settlement reached by the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office.

After receiving proposals from several organizations, Commission President A.J. Thomas developed an application for such requests.

The application asks if the applicant’s proposal will address opioid misuse and treatment and if it will be used only for opioid related purposes in compliance with a memorandum of understanding tied to the money by the West Virginia First Foundation.

The private, nonprofit group was established by the West Virginia Legislature to provide funds from the settlement to private and governmental entities and recently awarded $18 million in grants for various efforts across the state.

Thomas’ application asks each applicant to identify the target population and geographical area to be served through the applicant’s effort.

Among other questions, it also asks once the county funds are exhausted, how the endeavor may be continued, a concern the commissioners have expressed more than once.

Thomas said recipients of the county’s opioid funds will be required to report on their use so the commission may comply with the state’s own reporting requirements for it.

Plans have been made to post the application on the county’s website at brookecountywv.org.

Thomas said he envisions the opioid committee being comprised of five members from various backgrounds who will recommend applicants for the commission’s final approval.

Brooke County residents interested in serving on the volunteer panel should submit letters of interest to the office of County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta at the Brooke County Courthouse.

On Tuesday, the commission also announced it will seek volunteers to serve on its building commission, noting terms for the panel’s five members have expired while one has died.

The board had been formed to oversee the development of the judicial center and the new county ambulance station.

Following the meeting, Thomas said there are no projects of that nature before it at this time, though there still are outstanding revenue bonds for the judicial center the panel will routinely monitor.

The commission hopes to fill that board at next Tuesday’s meeting but welcomes letters of interest, especially from residents with experience in building and construction.

They also may be submitted to Barbetta’s office.

Also on Tuesday:

• The commission observed a moment of silence for Lloyd “Peanut” Van Horn, a long-time volunteer firefighter who died at the age of 83 on Thursday.

Thomas noted Van Horn was a member of the McKinleyville Fire Department for 68 years, serving as its chief for 25 years, but also was involved with and an advocate for other local volunteer fire departments.

“I’ve never seen so many hats in a casket,” he said after attending Van Horn’s funeral.

Van Horn also was a Navy veteran and when not working at Weirton Steel, where he was employed for 32 years, also divided his time among his family, the Bethany Masonic Lodge, Osiris Shrine and West Liberty Christian Church.

“There’s much that we could learn from him. He was a good person,” said Thomas.

• Barbetta noted the fling period has begun for those planning to run for county offices and will continue from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Jan. 31 at the election office of the county courthouse.

Filing fees for the offices are: $435.35 for county commissioner (candidates must reside in the Weirton Magisterial District); $632.50 for county magistrate; $25 for school board seat, $10 for county surveyor and $10 for each of two seats on the county’s Republican and Democrat committees.

• The commission approved a request by the Franklin Community Fire Department for about $3,777 from state firefighting funds disbursed periodically by the county.

County Commissioner Tom Diserio said the Franklin department plans to use the money to purchase three diving suits because three of its members have undergone diver training since divers were needed to recover the driver of the tractor-trailer that had crashed into the Ohio River last year.

The commission’s next meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the county courthouse.