Ohio County Commissioners Approve Hiring Two Deputies | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo by Shelley Hanson – Lou Vargo, director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency, and Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard talk before the start of Tuesday’s regular Ohio County Commission meeting.

WHEELING – The Ohio County Commission approved hiring two new deputies for the sheriff’s department during their regular meeting Tuesday.

Commissioners Randy Wharton, Don Nickerson and Zachary Abraham also approved Sheriff Tom Howard proceeding with rebuilding the department’s hiring list via upcoming civil service exams.

Howard said the department recently had four people retire. The two new hires are people who are already working as security guards at the City-County Building.

Two additional people will be hired from the future list of eligible candidates. With the new hires the department will have 32 deputies in total.

“Thank you for the new hires,” Howard said.

Howard noted the department plans to do active shooter training at West Liberty University next week. The training, known as ALICE, stands for alert, lockdown, inform, counter and evade. He ALICE training at Ohio County Schools on later dates.

Howard said the department can also begin to apply for various grants for needed equipment, such as body cameras. Gun recertification training for deputies will begin in May and last about three weeks.

Commissioners also approved the fiscal year 2022-23. Commissioner Don Nickerson said the budget is $21.15 million.

Commissioners approved a $500 hotel-motel tax grant request from Scramble for Scouts, set for May 26 at Oglebay Park, and $500 for Helping Heroes’ fundraiser event set for May 20 at River City Restaurant.

Abraham said a vintage transportation show is being planned at the Ohio County Airport on Sept. 24, tentatively.

Nickerson said he received some calls from people complaining about Mount de Chantal Road beside Kroger. He said the West Virginia Division of Highways told him the street belongs to the city of Wheeling and will be patched by the city with hot patch when the asphalt plants reopen.

Lou Vargo, Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Agency director, said the EMA and sheriff’s department recently had a meeting with Tunnel Ridge Mine. The company is scheduled to begin mining under Bear Rock Lake on May 5.

“They’re working very closely with the Department of Natural Resources. They will be monitoring it daily,” he said.

Administrator Randy Russell said the county can apply for a $1.7 million bipartisan infrastructure legislation grant to help make improvements at the airport including replacing the terminal and tower roofs and glass panels in the tower. The grant requires a 5% match or $85,000, he said.