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Warren Scott INCREASE APPROVED, TOWING DISCUSSED – The Brooke County Commission on Tuesday approved a general increase in its employees and heard complaints from two local towing companies.
WELLSBURG – The Brooke County Commission on Tuesday approved a raise for all county employees and heard complaints from two local towing companies about the county’s use of their services.
Fred Marino, owner of Al’s Auto Services; told commissioners he planned to shut down his 63-year-old business, largely because of money he lost on calls after other towing services were added to the rotation list used by the county 911 emergency center.
Marino said there were once three towing services on the county’s call list, now there are five and a sixth could be added.
He and Clyde Jordan of CJ’s Towing said it was unfair that the rotation included two non-county-based towing services.
“I think our money should stay in our county”, Jordan said, adding: “We lose money every day when they are here.”
Marino said it costs him around $ 13,000 per year to be insured as a towing service.
State law requires towing services to be provided and have specific equipment and facilities, including storage buildings and recovery yards for broken down vehicles.
He also calls any county or municipality commission operating a 911 emergency center. “Establish a policy which provides for the most rapid, fair, equitable and efficient response to requests or shipments of emergency towing services.” “
County commissioners said the policy was set by county sheriffs until former sheriff Larry Palmer asked them to adopt one. They said when Rich Beatty walked into the office he took it back.
Beatty could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
When the question of using towing services outside the county arose earlier, he said that two Weirton-based towing services have equipment for towing heavy vehicles and it seems unfair to limit their appeals to these situations alone.
In most cases, and especially when an accident is not investigated by law enforcement, the owner of a damaged vehicle can have it towed by the company of their choice.
Commission Chairman AJ Thomas said the county should not favor one towing service over another.
He told Marino and Jordan, “I think it would be a good idea for us to sit down together and discuss this. “
Commissioners regretted Marino’s announcement of his intention to close his business.
In the remaining cases, they announced that effective October 1, approximately 85 full-time and approximately 45 part-time employees will receive an hourly increase of 50 cents.
County commissioner Tim Ennis said the increases would bring salary increases for county employees to a total of around $ 93,000 over the past three years, but he recalls when they dragged many other employees .
“When I started as a commissioner in 2012, there were full-time employees earning $ 14,000 per year. We have improved it a lot, so that people can make a living at an affordable price ”, said Ennis.
Commissioners Thomas, Ennis and Stacey Wise said that while the employee benefits are very good, the county is fortunate to have a loyal and hardworking staff.
“We are very fortunate to have a dedicated workforce. They deserve this increase, and we are happy to give it to them ”, Thomas said.
Reverend Brian Knight asked the commission to compare the county’s pay scale to that of other neighboring counties, adding, “When we lose people, we usually lose them to other counties.”
Also on Tuesday, the commission accepted an offer of $ 22,590 for 18 ballistic vests for the sheriff’s department.
Submitted by 10-42 Tactical of Wheeling, the offer was greater than that of $ 19,566 submitted by Red Diamond Uniform and Police Supply of Youngstown, but it included an undergarment vest that could be worn over a shirt included in the specifications of the offer.
(Scott can be contacted at [email protected].)
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