BROOKSIDE — The village approved a contract with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Office to provide police coverage for the community.

On Monday, Brookside Village Council voted 5-1 to suspend the rules and pass an emergency ordinance to allow Mayor Rich Kurner to enter into the contract. The suspension of the rules was passed with only Councilman Allan Ketzell II voting against.

Once the roll call vote was made, the ordinance was passed in a 4-2 vote with council members Robert Thomas, Dennis Kennedy, Roger Stewart and Paul West voting in favor and Councilwoman Wendy Anderson and Ketzell II voting against. Solicitor Richard Myser said five votes were needed to suspend the rules, and four to pass the ordinance.

The contract with the sheriff’s office is for $12,000 per year and replaces the village’s former police protection contract with the Bridgeport Police Department, which provided the village with coverage for $24,000 per year. The village has been discussing signing the contract with the sheriff’s office since it declined to renew its contract with Bridgeport in July due to a planned increase in cost.

At the end of last month, the Bridgeport Police Department announced it would no longer provide police protection to Brookside beginning Oct. 1. This was due to a notice of termination the village previously sent the department after it declined to renew its police protection contract with them.

“It has been our honor to protect and service the residents and business of Brookside for more than 50 years. We wish only the best for Mayor Kurner and the village council as they begin their new endeavor with the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department,” the statement concluded.

Although the contract was not officially signed yet, Kurner said the sheriff’s office has been providing coverage to the village since the beginning of the month. He said that is also when the 911 contract was transferred to the sheriff’s office as well.

Following the meeting, Myser said the next step is for the contract to be approved by the Belmont County Board of Commissioners.

In other matters, Amber Berry was sworn into office as the village’s new fiscal officer. Berry took over the position after Jane Weaver announced her retirement in late August.

Also, Kurner announced the sewer issue on National Road has been resolved. He said workers were able to remove more than 1,000 pounds of sludge from the sewer lines.

“They (Atlas Contractors) were able to clear the line. Everything is flowing freely now,” he said.

The original estimated cost was around $32,000 from Atlas Contractors; however, the cost will likely be a little higher now due to an extra piece of equipment having to be brought in to finish the job, he said. The village has not received a final bill for the work.

Kurner also said he wants to get the word out that the village will begin enforcing an ordinance this winter that when it snows 2 inches or more, all cars must be moved off the streets within a 24-hour period in order for the streets to be plowed.

Council will next meet at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 in council chambers, 875 National Road.