Work Continues on Brooke Courthouse Annex, New 911 Center

Photo by Warren Scott

Work on a judicial annex to the Brooke County Courthouse and a new emergency 911 call center is moving ahead, said officials at Tuesday’s Brooke County Commission meeting.

County Prosecutor Joseph Barki asked the commission about the estimated completion of the judicial annex, which will include his office and offices and other facilities for the county’s probation department and circuit, magistrate and family courts. Commission President A.J. Thomas said significant completion of the 33,000-square-foot, three-story building is expected to occur in April but added later May or June are being eyed for staff to move in.

Thomas said while the contractor has faced some supply chain issues, “right now, they are on schedule.”

Crews with Rycon Construction of Pittsburgh began work early last year at the structure’s site at the south end of the courthouse. Thomas said there won’t be a connector between the two buildings because of cost and logistical barriers.

Designed by McKinley Engineering and Architecture of Wheeling, it’s being funded through the sale of $12.8 million in bonds. Plans call for a handicap accessible ramp to be extended to the entrance of the annex, which will include two elevators, including one to be used to transport prison inmates to their court appearances there.

It’s one of many security features planned for the building.

Thomas said the commission has been preparing to advertise for new furniture for the annex, noting the state Supreme Court will pay for those pieces for the magistrate and family courts.

He said furniture currently used by the courts may be put up for auction through a government surplus website or offered for purchase by the vendor selected to provide the new furniture.

In related business, Christina White, director of the county’s emergency 911 center, said consoles and other furniture for the new emergency 911 call center are being assembled.

The center is being established in an area that included the judge’s chambers for the circuit court.

About $1.3 million for the center’s new equipment and its installation will be paid from the county’s emergency 911 levy and other funds.

The commission recently agreed to advertise for an uninterrupted power supply for the center to ensure it’s not disrupted by power outages spurred by thunderstorms and other conditions.

Also Tuesday, the commission agreed to pay about $14,850 to Schenerlein and Sligar of Steubenville for a phase monitor to prevent the courthouse’s heating air conditioning and ventilation system from being affected by power surges.

The courthouse was without air conditioning for much of last summer after a lowvoltage power surge disrupted the system.