Sheriff Russell Martin introduced several newly promoted deputies to Delaware County commissioners on Monday.

Jason Passet and Rob Curren have been promoted to sergeant. “The single most important position in any law enforcement administration is sergeant,” Martin said.

Shelley Pfan has been promoted to jail director, replacing Ron Krueger who accepted a position outside of the county. Jessie Jackson has been named assistant jail director after many years of the position being vacant. Shawna Robison and Jenna Coy have been promoted to jail sergeant.

Candidates were required to take written tests as part of being vetted for the promotions. “We want to put into place a thorough vetting process to promote the most qualified candidates,” Martin said.

Martin said he feels that, outside of leading with integrity and honor, the single most important duty he has is to “hire and promote people of a like mind who care about this county and this office.”

Working to meet the April 22 deadline for the new Volunteer Peace Officers Dependents Fund, commissioners named Larry Sargent and Steve Jones to the fund’s local administrative board. Both Sargent and Jones are volunteer officers with the sheriff’s office and were elected to the board by fellow volunteer officers. Commissioners counted the officers’ votes Monday.

Commissioners have also selected Martin and Brad Euans from the county’s human resources office to serve on the board.

The state-mandated fund will provide a benefit payment to survivors of volunteer police officers killed or who have become disabled in the line of duty. State law requires each jurisdiction to establish a board of five members to administer claims for benefits from the fund. Two members will be elected by county commissioners, two will be volunteers who serve as police officers, and one person will be from the jurisdiction the police department serves.

The four members of the board are to nominate and elect the fifth member of the board sometime this week, according to Julie McKenzie, executive assistant to the sheriff.

In other business, commissioners awarded contracts for asphalt materials to be used by the county engineer for 2016 county paving projects.

Rob Riley, chief deputy engineer, explained the reason behind having multiple non-exclusive contracts. “It allows crews to go to the lowest bidder,” he said. “If the bidder is unable to fill the order, (the county) can go to the next lowest bidder on the list. It basically keeps the project moving.”

Sean Miller, director of the county’s emergency management services, told commissioners about a $17,350 grant to pay for hazardous materials training. “The grant is through the U.S. Department of Transportation for hazardous materials training,” Miller said. “(There’s) no out-of-pocket expense in the end.”

Commissioners also approved $1,500 for a phone bank for the county emergency services. The project will establish a line of communication for large disaster or child abductions while alleviating informational non-emergency calls coming into 9-1-1 dispatchers. “This is for a project that would enable us to stand up a phone bank in a vary quick amount of time,” Miller said.