Dec 21, 2021
JOSELYN KING Staff Writer
Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Administrator Randy Wharton, left, and Solicitor Don Tennant, speak on matters during Monday’s meeting of Ohio County commissioners.
WHEELING — Ohio County and Marshall County are looking to partner and share the cost of a mutual emergency radio system.
“I’ve met with the administrator in Marshall County, and we’ve come to an understanding that we are going to make the radio system a partnership — as opposed to (its being) the Ohio County ‘radio system,’” County Administrator Randy Russell told county commissioners Monday night.
“Marshall County will basically share 50-50 all the cost of it, and then how they charge their users in Marshall County will be up to them. We do that in Ohio County.”
The move will save Ohio County money, but he didn’t say how much. Details of the partnership are still being determined, according to Russell.
“I’ve been assured by Marshall County that we will get this resolved,” Russell said.
Brooke County also is part of the emergency radio system, but the plan is for them to be counted in with Ohio County, he explained.
Commissioners on Monday also approved a new mileage rate for county employees beginning Jan. 1. The employees will be paid 58.8 cents per mile for driving their own vehicle on county business, and this is in line with the federal rate, according to Russell.
Commissioners also granted the following requests for funding from hotel tax revenue. The Debbie Green Race/Walk will receive $4,000; Hoorah for Heroes, $5,500; the Ogden Wellness Weekend, $3,000; and the Park Duals Invitation Wrestling Tournament, $6,000.
Community grants also were approved for the Governor Boreman Statue Fund at $1,000; and the Ohio County Extension — West Virginia University Agricultural Series at $500.
County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo said the COVID testing site at the former Ohio Valley Medical Center building will be opened from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today, but will be closed Thursday and Friday before the Christmas holiday. Next week, the site also will be closed Thursday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Dec. 31 prior to the New Year’s Day holiday.
The COVID vaccination clinic in the former Michael’s store at The Highlands will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but also will be closed on Thursday and Friday this week and next.
County offices will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday and be closed throughout the day Friday for the Christmas holiday. The same schedule will be in place Thursday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Dec. 31 before New Year’s Day.