Chris Whittaker, Wood County IT systems and network administrator, speaks to the Wood County Commission on Monday to get approval to solicit bids to connect the new Resiliency Center, Shaver Judicial Annex and Justice Center with fiber optic cables. (Photo by Jess Mancini)
PARKERSBURG – The Wood County Commission will solicit bids to connect the new Resiliency Center, Shaver Judicial Annex and Justice Center to fiber optic cables.
On Monday morning, commissioners approved a request from Chris Whittaker, the county’s IT systems and network administrator, to solicit bids for the project.
Fiber optic cables are more reliable than wireless connections, Whittaker said. However, wireless connections can be affected by weather and interference, which can lead to service outages, he said.
“We want to switch to fiber optic so that there are no problems,” said Whittaker.
The Resiliency Center, located at the site of the former Wood County Correctional Center near other county and municipal offices, is nearing completion. Commission President Blair Couch said the county will take over the facility in the next few weeks.
The more than $13 million facility, designed by ZMM Architects and built by United Construction Co. of Parkersburg, was funded by the American Recovery Act.
In addition to being used during emergencies, disasters, medical needs and other situations such as a pandemic, as well as for temporary housing, the facility, which will serve as an alternate location for the operations center, features meeting rooms and a gathering area large enough to host wedding receptions, dinners, conventions, conferences and meetings, and legislative sessions, as well as a large commercial kitchen.
The Commission also announced that a position had become vacant on the Planning Commission.
The new candidate will replace Steve Valentine, who works in the county assessor’s office, said County Administrator Marty Seufer. It would be an advantage for the Planning Commission to have someone with that experience, he said.
“He was truly a tremendous asset to this committee,” said Seufer.
The Commission also approved a request to hire Austin Grimmett of Elizabeth as
assistant district attorney. Grimmett will be assigned to district court, District Attorney Pat Lefebure said.
Grimmett, who takes office on Aug. 19, is a candidate for the Wirt County district attorney’s office, which is considered a part-time position. If Grimmett wins election in November, the situation will be reevaluated, Lefebure said.
“If he wins in Wirt County, that should obviously be his priority,” said Lefebure.
Jess Mancini can be reached at [email protected].
