Community

Harrison sheriff applies for federal grant

CADIZ -- Sheriff Joe Myers talked to the Harrison County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday about applying for a federal grant.

The grant is from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Justice.

"It's for $18,556, and there is no cash match whatsoever," Myers said.

He noted that the funds would be used to purchase additional equipment for the department's special response team. He hopes to purchase eight gas masks, eight communication headsets and two ballistic shields.

"This additional equipment will help these guys tremendously. It will protect our guys when they respond to an emergency in the county," he said.

Myers said the department has received similar grants in the past from the DOJ.

"The DOJ has been very good to us the past few years," he said.

Myers said the application had to be in by Friday with all signatures in place. He said he just recently found out about the grant and was hopeful that the application would be ready by the deadline.

Commissioner Paul Coffland said that since the application was due on short notice, he would have Prosecutor Lauren Knight sign the application as soon as she was available.

Coffland made the motion to approve the application for the grant pending Knight's approval. All commissioners voted in favor of the motion.

The commissioners also unanimously approved an Equal Employment Opportunity and Civil Rights plan statement. Commissioner Dustin Corder read the statement.

"Harrison County is an Equal Opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy or any other protective characteristics as outlined by federal, state or local laws. ...Harrison County makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit and business needs," he read.

Coffland explained that they have to approve the statement any time they apply for federal funding.

In other news, the commissioners opened bids for paving Athens Township Road 96 and County Road 22.

For Township Road 96, Shelly & Sands bid $330,530.35, Cast & Baker Corp. bid $307,690 and National Lime and Stone bid $311,824.90.

For County Road 22, Shelly & Sands bid $595,550.95, Cast & Baker Corp. bid $618,935.52 and National Lime and Stone bid $584,293.06.

Assistant Engineer Stuart White said he would like to table the bids so that he could look at them more closely before making a recommendation.

The commissioners also approved a roadway use and railway agreement with Gulfport Appalachia LLC. Gulfport Appalachia plans to use a portion of County Road 55 beginning at the intersection with U.S. 250 and going west for approximately 1.8 miles to the intersection with County Road 2 and a portion of County Road 2 beginning at the intersection with County Road 55 and going west for approximately 2.8 miles to the intersection with Franklin Township Road 303/Adams Road to enter and exit oil and gas wells.

The agreement states that Gulfport Appalachia would be responsible for the maintenance and repair of the roads.

At the end of the meeting, Corder announced that Vitalant will be hosting a blood drive at WVU Medicine Harrison Community Hospital from 9 a.m. to noon Feb. 16 in the cafeteria. He said that all donors will receive a $10 gift card by email.

He added that donors should eat before donating and bring photo identification.

Appointments are preferred and can be made by entering blood drive code U5013 on vitalant.org.

The Harrison County Board of Commissioners will have its next meeting at 10 a.m. Feb. 7 in the Harrison County Courthouse in Cadiz.