By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Several organizations requested funding from the Tucker County Commission during their February 26th meeting. In total, the Commission approved over $37,000 in funding requests during the session to various entities.
First to appear before the Commission Karen Carper from the Highlands Trails Foundation. “We are here to request support from the Commission,” Carper said.
Carper said her organization was fundraising for a grant match for a $250,000 grant to improve 19 miles of the Allegheny Highlands Trail from Elkins to Parsons. The project, according to Carper, is a continuation of a grant funded project that has already seen some work done along the trail and includes an improvement project in Parsons to be determined.
The Commission approved a $5,000 donation from Hotel/Motel funds in a motion made by Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau with a request that Carper return with an update to the Commission at a later date.
Next Angie Johnson and Debbie Williams appeared on behalf of the Five Rivers Public Library and Mountain Top Library. Johnson and Williams updated the Commission on the latest developments at the libraries including the availability of mobile hot spots at the Five Rivers Public Library in Parsons. The hot spots, Johnson said, were available for three week check out at the library and could also be used for wifi calling on cell phones to save minutes, according to Rosenau. “We have hot spots now so that people in the community if they don’t have internet, they can check out the hot spots and take to their house,” Johnson said. “This is wifi if you don’t have wifi.”
In motions made by Rosenau, The Five Rivers Public Library was approved $13,000 in funding and Mountain Top Public Library was approved for $14,500 in funding. The approvals, Rosenau said were to assist the libraries with facilitating state funding as the libraries required local funding in order to be eligible for state funding.
Angie Pase next represented Run For It in requesting funding. “Tucker County is no stranger to Run For It,” Pase said. “You have faithfully pledged funds and have been a partner in this program since it started in 2007.”
Run For It, Pase said was a 2K/5K that is held in conjunction with the Leaf Peepers Festival each fall in Davis. This year’s event, according to Pase is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th at 11 a.m. in front of the Fire Hall in Davis.
Pase said that since the event’s inception, it has brought $3.2 million back to it’s 9 county service area. Tucker County, according to Pase, has brought back from an investment of $80,000 since 2007 non profits and charities have brought back a total of $1,340,253. Pase said that last year, Tucker County donated $5,000 and over $75,000 was brought in for Tucker County.
In a motion made by Rosenau, a donation for Run For It in the amount of $5,000 was approved by the Commission.
The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area requested a donation of $5,000. The organization provides AmeriCorps and grants to Tucker County, according to their representative. The Commission made no determination on the request, but said they would keep it under consideration.
Candi Travis appeared for the Tygart Valley United Way. Travis said she was requesting funding for the organization’s 211 program. The program provides information on such resources as food, housing, jobs, substance abuse and aging and disability.
Travis was requested to make an appointment with the Commission to further discuss and research the request. The matter was tabled pending further research into the request.