Commission questioned about ambulance station

WELLSBURG - The Brooke County commissioners on Tuesday said they still hope to establish a central headquarters for the county's ambulance service.

Bernie Kazienko, commission president, said the commissioners will meet with a builder of steel prefabricated buildings next week at the site across from Brooke High School that has been eyed for the proposed station.

The Brooke County Board of Education and West Virginia Department of Transportation have donated the land, which amounts to about an acre off Cross Creek Road, and the commission has discussed leasing additional land from the Norfolk-Southern Railroad.

But the ambulance service has only been able to secure $10,000 in grant funds for the project, which has been estimated at $400,000 by the Zapor Architects Group of Steubenville.

Asked about the project's status by resident Bill Williams, Kazienko said the commission also has considered several vacant buildings for the station, but in some cases the prices sought by the owners were out of the commission's range.

He added the former showroom and office of Magee Motors on Main Street in Wellsburg also was considered, but it is in the flood plain and the ambulance service was moved from the ground floor of the county courthouse in response to recurring threats of flooding.

The ambulance service currently operates its billing department at the Brooke County Board of Education office and its squads at the Wellsburg Fire Department and a double-wide trailer on property owned by Severstal-Wheeling on state Route 2 north of Mahan Lane in Follansbee.

Brooke County school officials recently asked the ambulance service to move from the school board office, citing a lack of space. John Schwertfeger, the county's ambulance director, said he's working to secure another site for the billing department.

In other business:

Tom Williams, whose wife Maureen is employed by the county, asked the commission to consider offering a monetary incentive to county employees who choose not to accept health coverage through the county.

Williams said the move could encourage employees to seek coverage through their spouses' employer, saving the county money. He provided information indicating Hancock and Ohio counties offer their employees a $5,000 stipend in lieu of health coverage at the family level and $1,000 in lieu of individual coverage.

Kazienko said the commission will seek feedback from the county's employees and input from other entities that offer the stipends.

The commission approved the Brooke Hills Park Board's application for a $9,000 state grant to purchase a tractor and sound system to be used for demolition derbies, mud bogs and other special events. If approved, the board will provide a $2,090 local match required of the grant.

In other business, the park board asked the commission to assist with the cost of re-paving a tennis court at the park after the contractor reported it will cost $5,368 more than the $22,250 that had been estimated.

The court is being re-paved for use as a basketball court in response to public demand, according to park officials.

The commissioners suggested the park board first consult its legal counsel regarding the contract for the project.

The commission agreed to meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday with officials from the Hammond Public Service District to discuss efforts to extend water to residents of the Hukill Run-Green Run area and the future site of the county's animal shelter.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com)