By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
A request for funding from the Mountain Top Senior Center was one of the agenda items addressed by the County Commission at their regular meeting. The request for money to help renovations at the center was approved by the Commission in a unanimous vote. Debbie Thomas and Melissa Brown addressed the Commission on behalf of the Senior Center.
Thomas informed the Commission of the need for renovations and upgrades to the facility. “We are in the process of renovating the Mountain Top Senior Center in Thomas,” Thomas said. “It’s been there I don’t know how many years and never had any work done on it and it is in need of renovations.”
Thomas went on to say that the Seniors have been funding ongoing renovations from a variety of fund raisers including breakfasts and hot dog roasts. A majority of the work on the facility has been completed with volunteer labor and materials purchased through the fund raisers over the past year. The Seniors have done interior work already including painting the ceiling and walls and wainscoting.
However, Thomas said the flooring is in desperate need of work. “We need a new floor now because that’s just terrible,” Thomas said. “We have some money, but we don’t have nearly enough.”
Thomas and Brown submitted estimates for the flooring to the Commission. Thomas said she was anticipating another estimate to come in on the work, as well. “We would just like to request some help with the cost of the new floor,” Thomas said.
Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau commended the Senior Center on its increase in membership, as well as on the progress the Center has made over the past year. “On behalf of the Commission, I want to commend you on the increased stuff you are doing up there,” Rosenau said. “Thank you. It serves the community really well.”
Along with a $8,000 award from the Tucker County Commission, the Commissioners informed the Center that they would put them in touch with grant opportunities to assist with the renovation. The motion to award the money was made by Commissioner Fred Davis. The Senior Center agreed to submit invoices on the flooring project to the Commission for payment and record purposes.
Other business conducted by the Commission at the meeting included the approval of several resolutions and board appointments.
Two resolutions pertaining to the Opioid Stimulant and Substance Abuse Grant we passed by the Commission. One grant in the amount of $80,000 was approved to fund Resource Officers in Schools and a second in the amount of $155,000 was approved in a separate motion to expand and approve substance use, mental health and peer recovery support.
A grant application was approved by the Commission for a State Historic Preservation Grant. The Commission approved a resolution on the grant application. The grant is intended to fund the restoration and identification efforts at the Camp Kidd (County Farm) Cemetery site.
Another resolution focused on a Contractual Agreement for a Cybersecurity Grant Program. The grant is intended to fund cybersecurity measures at the 911 Center. The resolution was approved by the Commission.
A new Lease Compliance Policy was approved by the Commission, as well. The policy complies with the Government Accounting Standards Board recommendations regarding the lease of equipment. The Policy defines the scope of the leasing costs and placed the County in compliance with the requirement immediately upon approval.
A Standard Operating Procedure regarding School Related Threats was also approved by the Commission. The procedure would be added to the 911 Center’s SOP Book for reference of the employees. The procedure focuses on school threats, as well as outlines what dispatchers will do in the unlikely event of a school threat and what outlines everything the dispatcher will need. The procedure was the result of interdepartmental input from multiple agencies in the County and had previously been approved by the 911 Advisory Board.
Several Board appointments were approved by the Commission. Tom Gutshall was re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board with an ending date of 12/31/2026. David Murphy was re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board with an ending date of 12/31/2025. David Lambert was re-appointed to the Parks and Recreation Board with an ending date of 12/31/2026. Carrie Alexander was appointed to the Building Commission with an amended ending date of 12/31/2026 and Garret Crossland-Bolyard was appointed to the Tucker County Community Corrections.
The following Road Name was approved by the Commission. Warren Judy had submitted a request for the name Opal Way Drive.
An appointment of Bob Elkholm for re-appointment to the Animal Shelter Board was tabled until the January meeting. A Revised: Purchase Order and Invoice Policy was also tabled until the January meeting by the Commission.
