A DIFFERENT SETTING — Brooke County commissioners met in the main courtroom of the Brooke County Courthouse on Tuesday while hinting it could become their regular meeting place since the county’s circuit, magistrate and family courts have moved into the county’s new judicial center next door. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — The start of early voting next week will bring temporary changes to the Brooke County Courthouse.

Among them is the Brooke County Commission’s meeting room on the first floor, which will be used by voters wishing to cast their ballots before the May 14 primary election.

On Tuesday, the commission approved the hiring of five temporary, part-time workers to staff the polling place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday from May 1 through May 11.

County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta, who heads the county’s election efforts, said, “I would be so much happier if we have a large turnout because it’s a lot of work whether we do or not.”

Interest in the primary election is likely to pale in comparison to the general election, particularly the presidential race, but it will help to determine some important races and issues.

It will decide the ultimate winners of non-partisan races for 1st Judicial Circuit Court judge, a position tasked with presiding over criminal and civil cases in Hancock, Brooke and Ohio counties, and two seats on the Brooke County Board of Education.

Also on ballots in the primary will be a five-year levy set to generate $3.3 million for instruction, services and extracurricular activities provided by Brooke County Schools and not covered by the state department of education.

In addition to being a trial run for many races at the federal, state and local levels, the primary race will eliminate candidates in a few races that will advance to the general election.

They include a seat in the state Senate representing the 1st Senatorial District, which includes, Hancock, Brooke, Ohio and part of Marshall County; and a seat in the state House of Delegates representing the 2nd Delegate District, which includes parts of Weirton, Follansbee and Wellsburg.

For general questions about the election, call (304) 737-3668.

Barbetta expressed thanks to all who helped or offered help in moving the county’s election equipment, including electronic voting machines, from the ground floor of the county courthouse during the recent flood, which ultimately didn’t extend beyond the former ambulance bay at the building.

The commissioners thanked Barbetta and Sara DeLong, the county’s chief elections clerk; for their efforts at this busy time.

Because their meeting room will serve as the polling place for early voting, the commissioners met Tuesday in the main courtroom of the county courthouse.

It has been empty since the county’s circuit, magistrate and family courts have moved into the recently completed judicial center next door.

Commission President A.J. Thomas said the courtroom will be available whenever the courtrooms in the new building are booked and another is needed for a judicial matter.

But the commissioners didn’t rule out the possibility of it accommodating their weekly Tuesday morning meetings in the future.

Thomas said the commissioners expect to discuss that with Glenda Brooks, the county’s circuit court clerk.

He noted the commission has met in many places, from the front porch of the original section of the courthouse to the boiler room in the basement, when their ground floor meeting room was needed for election equipment or other business.

Also on Tuesday, the commission:

• Approved the hiring of Dr. Shannon Altazan as medical director and part-time paramedic for the county’s ambulance service at the recommendation of Acting Ambulance Director Greg Moore.

Moore said it’s the first time, at least in recent years, when a medical director for the ambulance service has expressed an interest in playing an active role in its service.

Affiliated with Weirton Medical Center and Trinity Health System, Altazan is a certified paramedic and graduate of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Hattiesburg, Miss.

He previously served in the emergency medicine department of Charleston Area Medical Center’s Greenbrier Valley Medical Center.

• Approved $128,000 for repairs by Carolina Recording Systems to the digital recording system used by the county’s emergency 911 center.