Brooke County projects awarded state funds

WELLSBURG - Four representatives to the West Virginia Legislature on Thursday announced the awarding of $168,000 for a dozen projects in Brooke County, including funds for a water tank that will serve the county's new animal shelter and a chairlift to improve handicap accessibility to Wellsburg City Hall.

Gathering at Wellsburg City Hall, State Sens. Ed Bowman, D-Weirton, and Jack Yost, D-Wellsburg; and state Dels. Tim Ennis and Roy Givens, both D-Brooke, said they worked together to attain the funds, much of it in the form of Legislative Community Partnership Grants.

Among the recipients was the Brooke County Commission, which was awarded $18,000 for the county's new animal shelter. The funds will assist the commission in replacing a water tank serving the future shelter's site at the former Windsor Coal headquarters near Beech Bottom.

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health has advised the Hammond Public Service District, which will serve the site, that the wood tank must be taken out of service because it no longer meets federal standards.

Hammond PSD officials estimate the cost to replace the tank is $160,000.

The commissioners also has been awarded $7,000 to extend water to residents of the Hukill Run area near state Route 67 who have complained their wells are contaminated with the E coli virus.

Bernie Kazienko, commission president, also accepted confirmation of $50,500 awarded through the West Virginia Division of Criminal Justice Services for prevention and resource officers at Follansbee Middle School and Brooke High School. The officers, who are Brooke County sheriff's deputies, serve as liaisons between pupils and staff at the schools and the sheriff's department.

Kazienko said the commission, the sheriff's department and the Brooke County school board are attempting to place another officer at Wellsburg Middle School. The school board has agreed to provide up to $25,000 for the grant's match and toward the cost of a third officer. Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson said his department has been unsuccessful in securing additional grant funds for a third officer, citing competition from many other counties that have no resource officers.

The legislators also presented confirmation of a $10,000 grant for the chairlift at Wellsburg City Hall and a $5,000 grant for improvements to Wellsburg Central Park at 18th Street.

Plans call for the chairlift to be installed in the spiral staircase leading to council chambers on City Hall's second floor.

Mayor Sue Simonetti said the latter grant may be used to purchase benches, garbage cans and possibly, light posts, for the park.

Also receiving confirmation of funds were:

The Brooke High School automotive technology class taught by Dale Keenan and machine and tool technology class taught by Matt Moore - $3,000 and $6,000, respectively, for new computers and equipment.

Brooke Hills Park - $9,000 for electrical upgrades to the park's light posts, shelters and clubhouse and a tractor.

Brooke County Emergency Medical Services - $5,000 for a new ambulance station to be built on property across from Brooke High School and donated by the Brooke County Board of Education and West Virginia Division of Highways.

John Schwertfeger, the county's ambulance director, noted the legislators have secured other funds for the project. He said the ambulance service will continue to seek funds for the new headquarters, which has been estimated at $400,000.

The ambulance service was moved from the first floor of the county courthouse following the 2004 flood and has been operating since at the Wellsburg Fire Department and a doublewide trailer in Follansbee.

Brooke County Committee on Aging - $55,000 for various programs based at the Brooke County and Greater Weirton senior centers. Joy Crawford, the committee's executive director, said a portion of the funds will be used to purchase new vehicles to deliver hot lunches for seniors at the centers and other public sites and to shut-ins.

Brooke County Public Library - $14,400 for books, materials and programs. Mary Kay Wallace, the library's director, said at a time when funding through the state library commission has shrunk, the library is seeing increased use, particularly from job seekers who have used its computers for job searches and attended programs offering tips on writing resumes and related topics.

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