Brooke County fire departments, the Brooke County Ambulance Service and several other county departments and agencies will continue to receive funding through two county levies after receiving sufficient support in a special election Saturday.

Brooke County Clerk Sylvia Benzo said turnout for the election was light, with 888 Brooke County residents casting ballots.

She said the fire levy received 733 votes of support, while 154 voted against it. The ambulance excess levy received 653 votes of support, with 235 voting against, Benzo said.

The levies required the support of at least 60 percent of voters to be passed.

Bernie Kazienko, president of the Brooke County Commission, said, "We're very pleased with those who turned out to support the levies and very appreciative that the people of Brooke County historically have supported the levies."

He added that funds from the ambulance excess levy allows the county to provide many services to residents.

John Schwertfeger, Brooke County ambulance director, agreed, saying, "There are a lot of entities that can provide services throughout Brooke County, thanks to the levy."

He added the levy is vital to the county's ambulance service.

"It keeps us in modern equipment and with top-notch personnel," he said.

The levy will raise $718,553 per year for five years for repairs to the county courthouse and several county departments and agencies.

The allocation for courthouse repairs, in the amount of $50,000 per year, is new to the levy, which has generated funds for the ambulance service and other county services for a number of years.

Funds from the levy also will be distributed. in the following amounts, to the Brooke County, Bethany and Weirton ambulance services, $183,574; Brooke County Health Department, $131,000; Brooke County Public Library and Follansbee Branch Library, $128,500; Brooke County Parks and Recreation Commission, which operates Brooke Hills Park, $77,000; West Virginia University Extension Service, $55,041; Brooke County Committee on Aging, which operates the Brooke County Senior Center, $36,500; Healthways Inc., including operation of the Brooke County Opportunity Center and costs for mental hygiene proceedings, $35,000; and the Mary H. Weir Public Library, $21,938.

The fire levy will generate $335,995 per year for five years for the county's 11 fire departments. Set to receive $30,545 each per year are the Beech Bottom, Bethany, Bethany Pike, Colliers, Follansbee, Franklin Community, Hooverson Heights, McKinleyville, Weirton, Wellsburg and Windsor Heights fire departments.

Ron Ostrosky, president of the Brooke County Firefighters Association, said, "We're very pleased. We really appreciate the support of the voters."

He added with the levy's passage, "We can continue to provide the high level of service we have. Without that support, we really would have been hurting financially."