Counties To Jointly Fund Radio System | News, Sports, Jobs

Photo by Joselyn King
Ohio County Emergency Services Director Lou Vargo, left, and Sheriff Tom Howard brief county commissioners during their meeting Tuesday night.

WHEELING — Ohio and Marshall counties are looking to jointly share the cost and management of their mutual emergency radio system.

Ohio County commissioners Tuesday night approved a memorandum of understanding through which Ohio and Marshall counties would contribute equally to the upkeep of the emergency radios.

The typical annual cost for maintaining the system is about $1 million, meaning each county would be responsible for about $500,000 of the price under the agreement, according to County Administrator Randy Russell.

“Ohio County a few years back built a radio system to be inter-operable with the state system,” he explained. “We’ve taken Marshall County onto our piece of the system — Zone 3 — and we approached them about funding it better.”

The memorandum establishes the county will both jointly fund and manage the system, according to Russell.

In other matters, commissioners approved a second memorandum of understanding with the County Public Service District to take on the entity’s accounting duties.

The PSD will reimburse Ohio County $4,500 annually for the service.

Commissioners agreed to provide a community grant of $13,350 to help fund the American Legion veterans van. The vehicle will assist with providing three vans and three drivers to transport veterans to the Veterans Administration hospital in Pittsburgh.

They also approved a second grant for $500 to benefit the Auggies 5K Run and Walk organized by the Warwood School. Proceeds from the event, which takes place Oct. 8, will benefit the Ohio County Animal Shelter.

The commission will next convene at 6 p.m. on May 3 at the commission office at the City-County Building, located at 1500 Chapline St. in downtown Wheeling.