Photo by Joselyn King Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo gives his last report to county commissioners before retirement on June 30.

WHEELING – He has worked long shifts during floods, fires, interstate vehicle crashes, hazardous material scares, landslides and most any emergency happening in Ohio County over the last four decades.

Ohio County Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo is retiring from the job effective June 30 after a career with the EMA spanning 37 years.

He made his final report to the Ohio County commissioners during their meeting on Tuesday morning.

But Vargo won’t be stepping away from emergency response.

He said he will continue to teach paramedic training and also be involved with local volunteer fire and emergency departments.

“I’ve got some plans,” Vargo continued. “As soon as I solidify those, I will let you know.”

Current Deputy EMA Director Tony Campbell will assume the position in July following Vargo’s retirement, Commission President Zach Abraham confirmed.

The deputy director’s position, meanwhile, will not be filled, he added.

“Eventually, we will reevaluate it, but for now we are not going to replace (the deputy position),” Abraham said.

Vargo first took on a part-time position with the Ohio County EMA in 1990 before becoming its director following the death of John Tagg in 2010.

In addition, Vargo had a full-time career as a nurse anesthetist at Ohio Valley Medical Center for 40 years prior to the hospital’s closing. In 2020, he took on the director’s job full-time so that he could focus on establishing an ambulance and paramedic service for Ohio County to supplement local departments.

Born in Mt. Pleasant, Vargo became a junior firefighter at age 16. He would go on to head up the emergency squad in Mt. Pleasant, and eventually he became fire chief there.

After coming to Ohio County, Vargo would team with one of his best friends – then Wheeling Fire Chief Cliff Sligar – to start the paramedic program at the Wheeling Fire Department.

Vargo reports that during his 37 years with the Ohio County EMA he has served under three county administrators and many county commissioners.

“I’ve had the honor of working with many elected officials, and I will tell you now the group that I am working with now is the best,” Vargo said. “I’ve worked with many sheriffs over the years, and working with Nelson (Croft) – first as chief deputy and now as sheriff – he is the easiest person to work with. The collaboration with the sheriff has just been outstanding.”

County officials present, meanwhile, thanked Vargo for his decades of service to the county.

“You made your mark in Ohio County, and it was very appreciated,” Abraham said.

In other matters before the commission, the commission opted to keep in place a stipend policy that provides county employees who don’t subscribe to the county’s health insurance money for getting their insurance elsewhere. Those insured as individuals will continue to get $1,000 annually; and those as families, $6,000 a year.

Ohio County has received a tourism grant from the state for up to $5,000 to commission a mural that celebrates America’s 250th birthday. Vondel Bell of Wheeling has been tapped to create a movable mural that will be based at the City-County Building, but also displayed at local fairs and festivals, according to County Administrator Randy Russell.

Juneteenth this year falls on Friday and West Virginia Day on Saturday, with both being typical holidays for county employees.

Commissioners will allow all employees the day off on Friday, and this year will give them a “floating” holiday to account for West Virginia Day. They will be permitted to take one day off within the next 90 days.

The commissioners next meet at 8 a.m. on June 7 at the City-County Building, 1500 Main St., Wheeling.