Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County 911 Director Theresa Russell, right, alongside County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo, informs county commissioners she will retire in 2024.

WHEELING — Ohio County 911 Director Theresa Russell announced this week she plans to retire by the summer of 2024.

She told county commissioners that as of March she will have been employed at the County 911 Communications Center for 35 years. Her pending retirement comes with a request that the county hire a deputy director soon who could be trained in the coming months to run the 911 center.

“Currently there is no No. 2 (person) in the department,” Russell said. “I do have pending plans to retire in mid-2024, so I would really like to have someone to take over upon my departure.”

The idea would be to have someone ready to run the department if the commission opts to hire within the 911 Center, and not look elsewhere, she added.

Russell told commissioners six months should be enough time to get someone trained to run the department.

“I’m just concerned that a person I went to high school with is retiring when I’m not,” Commission President Don Nickerson joked.

Commissioner Zach Abraham commended Russell for considering a plan for succession, and asked if there was anything the commission should consider.

County Administrator Randy Russell – who is also Theresa Russell’s husband – said the search for a deputy director will be opened up to “everyone in the 911 department.”

He added the county also is planning to form a committee to consider the applicants. On that committee would be Theresa Russell, County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo, as well as representatives from law enforcement and fire department agencies in the county.

In addition, “there is no guarantee” the person hired for the deputy director’s position will become director following Theresa Russell’s retirement, according to Randy Russell.

Those interested in the job must have at least three years work experience, and Commissioner Zach Abraham asked if the three-year requirement “was enough.”

Theresa Russell said she was hired as a dispatcher at the 911 center with no prior experience in 1989, and was promoted to director by 1991. She explained a major part of the job is wanting to learn about and work with the law enforcement and emergency responders in the county.

“I think three years is actually more of a time frame than I had at that point,” Theresa Russell said. “I think if you have a love for this position, you will excel.”

Commissioner Randy Wharton added he expects Vargo also will want to retire in the coming years, and that “a change in the organizational structure” within the county’s emergency services likely will happen at that time.

“It will probably look a lot different two years from now,” he said. “It will be good to have somebody available to step in when needed. We are very fortunate to have (Deputy EMA Director) Tony Campbell.”