By HEATHER SMITH

Staff Writer

Jesse Gandee, a representative from USDA Rural Development, attended the Tyler County Commission meeting on Tuesday morning to informed the commissioners of some of the services they provide for low income residents.

Gandee spoke about the 504 program that provides loans and grant funds for the repair of water wells, septic systems, as well as the installation of bathrooms, replacement or repair of roofs and the addition of insulation. They will also provide for the installation of storm doors and windows, replacement of deteriorated siding, sheetrock ceilings, heating and cooling systems, replacement of damaged sub floors or floor coverings and the removal of health hazardous conditions.

“The purpose of the program is to keep low income families in their homes,” stated Gandee.

The maximum assistance per property owner for Section 504 loans may not exceed $20,000 and the maximum assistance per property owner for Section 504 grants may not exceed $7,500. The interest rate for all section 504 loans is one percent and loan terms can be written for a maximum of 20 years and are based on the borrower’s repayment ability.

Pamphlets will be available at the courthouse for residents interested in the program.

In other business, the commission approved the election workers and polling places for the special primary election. District 3 will not be held at the old Tyler High School for this special election. Instead, it will be housed on the lower level of the Middle Island Health Clinic.

Robert Wable reported to the commission that $75,086.01 was found in the levy fund and he recommended dividing the money to distribute it to the three emergency services in the county. The measure would give each entity approximately $25,000 each to help them out and to keep the emergency services running. The money in the levy fund was money compiled over the last five years.

Wable stressed the importance of passing the levy.

The commission approved the motion to divided the money up between the emergency services.

Sandy McCowen, a Tyler County resident, attended the meeting asking the commission to draft a letter to the Department of Highways in Moundsville stating they approved the renaming Rush Fork Road.

The road name will go back to Stewarts Run Road, its original name, from the bottom of Sellers Road to the top of the hill on Little Sancho Road.

The restoration work on the clocktower is now completed according to President Charles “Pork” Smith. He also approved the motion to replace eight double hung windows in the Prosecutor’s Office in the amount of $2,500 by Fletcher and Lash Contractors.

The next meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Aug. 10 at the Tyler County Courthouse.