BUCKHANNON – The Upshur County Commission on Thursday tapped a Wheeling-based radio communications maintenance company as a secondary contact if there is an emergency at the Tallmansville tower site and the county’s primary radio system is unavailable.

At its April 14 meeting, commissioners approved a time and materials quote from Unified Solutions, LCC, making them the backup contact if an emergency occurs at the Tallmansville tower, and the county’s primary radio system maintenance company, Biser Radio Service of Buckhannon, is out of service or unavailable.

Upshur County Administrator Carrie Wallace explained the county needed to establish a backup plan in case something went wrong at the tower and Biser wasn’t in service.

“We wanted to have something in writing so that telecommunicators had a clear direction in the event of emergency and Biser was unavailable,” Wallace said. “This letter just solidifies that agreement, and they will be the second call and the reason we were interested in the Unified Solutions is that they already service the 911 Center, so of course, it makes sense to have that same contractor service.”

Unified Solutions currently services the E911 Upshur County Communication Center’s radio consoles.

In other county news, the commission took the following actions:

• Approved a request from Jason L. Queen requesting appointment as county coroner of Upshur County

• Approved Geraldine “Jerry” Zickefoose as Lewis-Upshur Animal Control Facility volunteer

• Approved a proclamation declaring April 10-16 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the full text of which appears below in italics:

Whereas emergencies occur 24 hours per day, seven days a week, 365 days a year that require law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services,

Whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technician and paramedic is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property,

Whereas such response would not be possible without public safety telecommunicators who are the first and most critical contact our citizens have emergency services,

Whereas our law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical service personnel are dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone the Public Safety Telecommunicators working within the Upshur County Emergency 911 Communication Center,

Whereas Public Safety Telecommunicators provide the vital link for emergency services personnel by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them with invaluable information and ensuring their safety during the most dangerous times,

Whereas Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Upshur County Emergency 911 Communications Center have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires, treatment of patients, overall safety of our community and have been integral in the response to the COVID 19 pandemic, and

Whereas Public Safety Telecommunicators of the Upshur County Emergency 911 communications exhibit compassion, understanding and professionalism during the performance of their jobs on a daily basis.

Now therefore, it is resolved that Upshur County Commission declares the week of April 10 through 16 to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and Upshur County in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our county and citizens safe.