Wood County Commissioners Blair Couch, Robert Tebay and Jimmy Colombo talk about Kevin Trippett, President and CEO of Westbrook Health Services Inc., as the commission’s nomination to represent this area on the board tasked with distributing three-quarters of the state’s more than $1 billion in opioid settlement funds. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission is supporting the head of Westbrook Health Services to serve on the statewide board overseeing disbursement of funds from West Virginia’s opioid settlements.

The commission will host a meeting 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Boreman Meeting Room at the Judge Black Annex to select the Region 3 board member for West Virginia First, a nonprofit foundation tasked with distributing three-quarters of the state’s more than $1 billion in opioid settlement funds.

In a vote Monday, the commission unanimously nominated Kevin Trippett, President and CEO of Westbrook Health Services Inc., to serve on the board when nominations are asked for on Wednesday.

Others who have been nominated by officials in the area include Parkersburg Mayor Tom Joyce and Sarah Barton, owner of ProFuse Solutions. More nominations could be put forth on Wednesday.

Commission President Blair Couch said he has received recommendations from the McDonough Foundation and the Sisters of St. Joseph’s. At one point, Couch considered putting his name into consideration, but he decided his other commitments had to take priority.

“I also think elected officials will be subject to more politics than someone else,” he said.

Couch put Trippett’s name to the commission.

Both Couch and Commissioner Jimmy Colombo praised Joyce, who is being nominated by Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp and others, and the work he has done locally, but Couch said he felt the commission’s nominee needs to be someone who works with substance abuse issues locally. The commission received a letter from Elizabeth Mayor Bobbi Moore recommending Barton for the work she has done locally to address drug abuse and overdoses. Barton also came in and talked with commissioners before Monday’s meeting.

“I would like to see someone who works over 40 hours a week on this,” Couch said.

Barton said she has done foundation work and consulting for non-profits and has a passion with helping smaller counties in the region.

“I want to make sure all counties get a portion of the money,” she said, adding she wants to see it used for investing back into the area to help people.

She also wanted to make sure the money is not politicized and has as much benefit in the surrounding counties as it would in Wood County.

Commissioner Robert Tebay said it was important for the person who serves on the statewide board who will look out for the interests of the entire region.

Colombo wants someone who will report back to the commission and other regional representatives on what is happening. He said there have been appointments like that in the past where officials never hear back from the representatives.

“Whoever we select needs to come back and give reports,” he said. “I want the person to be able to work with us.”

Representatives of Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt and Wood counties and 21 municipalities within them will cast votes, weighted based on the percentage of settlement funds each is in line to receive. Some will attend the meeting in person, while others will participate remotely.

Couch said Westbrook already covers the counties within Region 3 and has done work in drug treatment and other drug abuse services. Trippett has done work in the area involving substance abuse and Couch has heard from others locally who think Trippett would be a good choice to serve on the board.

Commissioners talked with Trippett over the phone on Monday.

“If I am chosen, I would be the representative for the whole eight counties,” he said. “I would need feedback from everyone.

“It shouldn’t be my decision alone.”

He said he wants to work with others in the community to solve problems. He has worked at the state level in distributing funds across the state. He would not use the position to solely benefit Westbrook.

“I want to collaborate with many organizations,” he said. “I will look out for what is best for the people of West Virginia in how to distribute those funds to get the biggest bang for the buck.”

In other business, the commission heard status reports on dilapidated properties located at 286 Drain Road, Mineral Wells and 33 Harvest Drive, Vienna. The property on Drain Road has things that need to be cleaned up as well as a couple of structures that need to be torn down and a representative with a local equipment company that abuts the property said they were willing to help clean up the property. The commission has given them 90 days to show progress on the clean up.

The other property on Harvest Drive was bought and a couple is working to restore the home to sell. They do not have full title on the property yet, but officials said they have made significant progress in clearing out the overgrowth and making improvements to the house and existing structures. The commission is giving them 30 days to receive full ownership and continue to make improvements and the county said they could close the case on the property.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com