PARSONS – Representatives from the Mountaintop Public Library have plenty to celebrate – this week marks their 35th year of service to the community, and Wednesday, Tucker County Commissioners signed a proclamation declaring this week Mountaintop Public Library Week.
Mountaintop Public Library Director Ivonne Martinez asked the Commissioners to sign the proclamation.
“This is our 35th anniversary,” Martinez said. “I want to thank you for your support of the Library during the Run For It. It was a wonderful day.”
Commission President Mike Rosenau congratulated Martinez and those from Mountaintop Public Library on their success during the Run For It.
“In 1978, the Thomas Women’s Club, Don Roth, Arthur G. Quattro, Edward McDonald, Ruth DePollo and members of the community worked together to have a library on the mountain,” Martinez said. “The Mountaintop Outpost Library opened for business on Monday, Feb. 26, 1979 next to the Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School.”
Commissioner Lowell Moore commended Martinez on a job well done.
Commissioner Diane Hinkle said the Mountaintop Public Library has a lot of energy.
“There is not a person on the mountain who doesn’t know how hard you and your board work,” Hinkle said. “I commend you for the community support you have generated.”
Tucker County Senior Center Director Roxanne Tuesing reported on the county transit meeting she attended.
“This was the second of three meetings,” Tuesing said. “There is a big interest in public transit for Tucker County. There is also a very large cost associated with public transit. If Tucker County were to be successful in getting that, the Commission would have to commit to pay a 50 percent matching fund.”
Tuesing said there is a survey in the libraries about public transit in the area.
“These will help determine the needs,” Tuesing said. “This is not something that will happen quickly. It will take a few years. And the cost will be $50 to $70 thousand dollars per year.”
Also during Wednesday’s Tucker County Commission Meeting:
-Approved a letter of support for Daniel Hobbs, Americorp to the Tucker County Development Authority and Planning Commission, for a Smart Growth America Training. Hobbs said the training does not cost the county anything.
-Approved $25,000 support for Pulp Mill Bottom Dike. Parsons City Councilmember Bruce Kolsun and Parsons City Administrator/Treasurer Jason Myers approached Commissioners for $25,000 to help secure an engineer and get an estimate to repair the dike.
“There is power in uniting,” Moore said. “I think that will show cooperation and I think it’s in our best interest.”
-Approved funding for $1,035 for the Tucker County High School FFA students for their trip to the FFA National Convention.
-Joel Goughnour announced he was contacted by Melissa Smith at Courthouse Facilities saying Tucker County Commission was awarded a grant in the amount of $96,000 for repairs to the exterior of the older part of the Tucker County Courthouse.
-Approved the hiring of Melinda Lipscomb for part time employment at the Tucker County Animal Shelter.
The next Tucker County Commission meeting is slated for 9 a.m. Nov. 12.
