WELLSBURG — Improving communication and operations for local emergency first responders has been an objective of the Brooke County Commission in recent months.
On Tuesday, the commissioners approved a $100,960 contract with Motorola Solutions for several radios to be used by the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department’s special response team and for security at the county’s animal shelter.
The agreement includes a special feature that will allow all radios issued by the commission to emergency departments to be programmed so first responders can use the internet to communicate with others immediately in buildings where radio reception is disrupted.
Commission President A.J. Thomas said county officials also are working to establish mobile internet hotspots for ambulances and police cruisers to be used in areas in which the terrain disrupts radio reception.
In 2021, the commission purchased $1.7 million in hand-held and car radios and other communications equipment for the county’s first responders through Motorola Solutions in collaboration with the Ohio County Commission.
In related business, Thomas said the county’s ambulance authority, formed in recent years to oversee its ambulance service, has interviewed four individuals interested in overseeing it and the county’s office of emergency services.
The commission is expected to consider the volunteer board’s recommendation at its next regular meeting at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Greg Moore, a long-time paramedic with the agency, has served as interim director for the two entities since the departure of Andy Nickerson in February.
Thomas said the ambulance authority has prepared an ad for a consulting firm to determine improvements to the ambulance service’s operations but has waited to post it, pending selection of the new director, who will be invited to provide input.
He said representatives of local hospitals, fire departments and other affected agencies will be asked to make suggestions.
Thomas noted a five-year levy for the county’s ambulance service, office of emergency management and emergency 911 center approved by voters in 2022 will go into effect next year, generating more funds for equipment for the ambulance service.
The levy is set to generate $900,000 for the ambulance service.
“We want to be sure that money is well spent,” he said.
Thomas said construction of the new central ambulance station at the north end of Pleasant Avenue and W.Va. 2 in Wellsburg is progressing well.
“We hope to be operational by September,” he said.
Thomas said the commission hopes to work with the West Virginia Division of Highways to establish warning lights near the intersection to alert approaching drivers when an ambulance is entering it while responding to an emergency call.
With four bays and seven rooms, the structure will replace stations along W.Va. 2 at the north end of Follansbee and in the Marshall Terrace area near Bethany.
The $2 million project is being funded with money set aside by the commission prior to the levy’s passage.