Resolutions, grants
by Jazz Clark
The April 5 meeting of the Morgan County Commission was full of items for official approval.
Commission President Stacy Dugan was appointed to the Warm Springs Watershed Association. Dugan lives in the watershed.
Head of the watershed association, Kate Lehman, plans to have a comprehensive watershed management plan prepared within the next three months.
Courthouse bailiff Irv Miller asked for commission approv-al of the Emergency Procedure Guidelines.
Approval was granted, but work on fire drills and emergency routes will come one step at a time, he said.
Grant applications
The Morgan County Sheriff’s Department applied for a grant for $63,907 to cover purchase and installation of cameras in 11 police vehicles.
The grant, as part of the West Virginia Division of Justice and Community Ser-vices Fiscal Year 2012 Justice Assistance Grant program, requires a 25% match. The commission has agreed to match $15,977.
The commission is entering into a partnership with the HOME program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
This program helps provide affordable housing for the low and moderate income residents, through rental and home purchase assistance.
Requests for grants and funding were submitted along with the resolution.
Showing support of efforts to fight substance abuse in Morgan County, the commission submitted an application to the West Virginia Justice Assistance Program.
Other business
Starting Points asked the commission to proclaim April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
“It’s your turn to make a difference,” said Audrey Morris, echoing the motto of the Abuse Prevention Organization.
A 5K run is planned in Hancock on the April 28 to show solidarity against child abuse and raise funds for prevention programs.
— Steve Rawlings visited to explain insurance and loss ratios from West Virginia Risk Pool, as well as how to gain potential members and general performance of the pool.
— Amendments are to be made to the Comcast Fran-chise Agreement, said Jerry Berman.
“We need to take appropriate time to discuss this, since once it’s kicked in, the effects last for 10 years,” said Berman.
— Kim Jackson, Circuit Clerk, was allocated $100 for jury supplies, after current supplies had been wiped out by the recent five-week trial.
— The commission agreed on Payne-less for their county lawn care and mowing needs, receiving the lowest estimate of $10,000 per season at 20-22 cuts.
— Debra Kesecker, County Clerk, stated that there was a mistake on the absentee ballots for next month’s primary election, but stickers are being printed and ballots reprinted immediately. The problem should be resolved by early voting, Kesecker said.
