T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Commissioners J.P. Dutton, left, and Jerry Echemann accept the resignation of Senior Services Director Dwayne Pielech and the retirement notice of Facility Manager Jack Regis on Wednesday.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County commissioners are wishing two employees well as they move on from public service.

The board officially recognized two resignations during its weekly Wednesday meeting.

The commissioners accepted the resignation of Dwayne Pielech as director of Belmont County Senior Services, effective Oct. 8.

“Dwayne ran Senior Services and did an excellent job for about 1.5 years and we’re sorry to see his resignation submitted. We thank him for his service,” Commissioner Jerry Echemann said, adding that Pielech had told the board early on that he did not intend to remain the director long term.

Pielech will be rejoining the private sector but did not provide details of his plans.

The commissioners will continue to consider replacements for Pielech. In answer to a question posed by Richard Hord of Martins Ferry, Echemann said there is no deputy director of Senior Services but the department heads are experienced and know their roles.

Pielech led the county agency through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic last year and has laid safeguards and operational procedures to keep the 10 senior centers and necessary services going for the expected increase in cases fueled by the delta variant. Senior Services helps those members of the community who are most vulnerable to COVID-19.

The commissioners ask the public to support a 1-mill levy for senior services that will appear on the Nov. 2 ballot. They cite the increasing range of deliveries and transportation, and the growing number of meals provided to senior citizens in Belmont County as reasons to support the measure.

The commissioners also accepted the retirement of Facility Manager Jack Regis, who has worked for the county since 2005. He will retire Nov. 30.

Regis often is visible during county building projects, such as the renovation of the courthouse and of the former headquarters of The Health Plan buildings that now house the Belmont County Northern, Eastern and Western Division courts and the prosecutor’s office as well as the Board of Elections and Title Office.

“We wish him well,” Echemann said.