transition underway at Ohio County Sheriff's Department | News, Sports, Jobs

photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Commissioner Zach Abraham, from left, attorney Don Tennant, Emergency Management Agency Director Lou Vargo and Sheriff Tom Howard sit in on the commission's meeting Monday night.

WHEELING – Drage Flick, chief administrator of the Ohio County Sheriff's Department, plans to retire at the end of the year when a new sheriff takes office, and he says the department is almost ready for the transition.

There are office workers who are trained in payroll and statistical reporting, and if he's not there, “someone can do it.”

Some things you can't train others on until a problem arises, like the hiring process, he explained. There is also a process of applying for new recruits to the State Police Academy and completing the necessary paperwork.

Flick is certified in firearms training, as is Sheriff Tom Howard, but both will leave the department at the end of the year. Within the department, Chief Deputy Nelson Croft and Deputy Brady McConnell are both certified in firearms training and a third deputy is scheduled for training, he noted.

Flick said he does “99 percent of the maintenance” on guns.

“So we need to train a few guys to take your place,” asked Commissioner Randy Wharton.

County Administrator Randy Russell asked him “if he were to enter the lottery tomorrow” and leave the department the next day, would any duties he did be covered by someone else.

“Never, it’s about 65 to 70 percent,” Flick replied. “Like I said, there are some things I can't teach someone until the time is right to do something like that.”

Howard also addressed the commissioners, presenting them with a list of needs within the department.

Most recently, a urinal overflowed into the basement of the courthouse annex, where Sheriff's Department deputies have their training room. It was not detected for several hours and caused “two to three inches” of water to flood into the basement.

Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration was called and responded quickly, according to county project manager Melissa Marco. They gave their assurance that everything was cleaned.

But Marco said cleaners would be called back after Howard reported a smell of mold in the basement on Tuesday.

He also said he had to buy used tires for a patrol vehicle because he couldn't receive a purchase order to buy new ones.

Wharton – who owns an auto repair shop – said he should have come and looked at it and seen it had new tires. Wharton also suggested the department purchase tires in bulk so they have them on hand when needed.

Howard also reported that the insides of their guns were failing while on the range, causing them to misfire or not shoot at all.

Flick said he has since replaced the recoils on every gun in the department at a cost of $36 per gun. He acknowledged that the guns' magazines also began to fail and that there had been trigger problems.

“If a recoil spring fails, I order a few,” he explained. “It’s a small price, but sometimes it takes months to get them.”

Wharton commented: “That's what you need to do for the tires too. »

Both Flick and Howard pointed out that there is also a need for new computers within the sheriff's department. While deputies have laptops with them in their cars, six of them are reportedly not working while four others “are not really functional,” according to Flick.

MPs, for their part, must share a computer when they return to the office, he explained.

Meanwhile, Flick noted that only two names remain on the sheriff's department's civil service list, and both have indicated they no longer wish to work for the Ohio County Sheriff's Department . The department will offer the civil service test again in two weeks to replenish the list.

The commission also took action on a number of personnel issues.

Russell announced that Rodd Archey, former county finance director, has officially retired after 25 years of service. His duties will be carried out by other employees in the office, he said.

Erin Witchey, an accounts payable clerk in the office, will become elections coordinator. Jessica Klinger was the last person to hold this position.

Michelle Olejasz is transferring from the county tax department to become deputy elections coordinator.

Former Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms has been named a citizen member of the Ohio County Fire Board; and Dave Patterson, on the board representing the Triadelphia Fire Department.

Mitchell Haddad was appointed to an unexpired term on the Ohio County Solid Waste Authority expiring June 30, 2026. Additionally, Vincent DeGeorge was hired to a full term extending through June 30, 2028.

Wharton, Jeff Doyle, Raymond Hebling and former Delegate Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, were all reappointed to their positions on the Ohio County Development Authority, with terms set to expire July 1, 2027.

The commission will meet again on July 23 at 6 p.m.

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