Dave Mordan, Director of Operations for Dominion Hope, and Tom Gump, Dominion Superintendent, appeared at Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Tyler County Commission to present two checks totaling $50,000 as part of the company’s partnership with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office rescue boat project.

Dave Mordan, Director of Operations for Dominion Hope, and Tom Gump, Dominion Superintendent, appeared at Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Tyler County Commission to present two checks totaling $50,000 as part of the company’s partnership with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office rescue boat project. The money will be used to fund construction of a building to house the recently acquired boat, complete with security cameras. Dominon Hope has also agreed to lease the land where the building site is planned for a nominal fee. “We’ve been working with the Tyler County Sheriff’s Office for some time,” said Mordan. “They help provide security for us in that area as part of our Security Action Plan.”

Mordan and Gump presented the checks to commission President Charles “Pork” Smith and Sheriff Earl Kendle, Jr. The checks will be deposited into the capital outlay and building fund and the money will then be used for the project. County commissioners and Sheriff Kendle thanked Mordan and Gump for Dominion’s contribution to the project.

Delegates from the Tyler County Library and the Sistersville Library spoke to commissioners concerning funding for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Thank you for your support in the past,” Rosanne Eastham began, speaking on behalf of Tyler County Public Library. “We appreciate it and hope you continue to help the library.”

Eastham then went on to detail many of the library’s programs and functions in the community. “In this depressed economy, many people rely on the library as a place to search for employment, take online classes and apply for jobs,”explained Eastham. “It’s not feasible for many residents to drive to Sistersville or New Martinsville libraries. We provide a convenient location for many people.” Eastham further noted that the Middlebourne library serves the needs of pre-schoolers.

Heather Weekley spoke on behalf of the Sistersville Public Library, and thanked commission for it’s contributions. Sistersville Public Library asked to be considered for the same amount ($2,000) for the upcoming fiscal year.

“Without your contribution, the library would not receive funding through the state,” she explained. Even though the library was fortunate to receive a $10,000 anonymous donation this year, the money came with a stipulation that it must be used to remodel the basement meeting room. Weekley presented commissioners with a fact sheet that showed library usage is growing in all areas. Registered users, library visits and use of computers all exhibited growth in numbers.

“The commission will consider your requests as we prepare our budget,” promised President Smith. “We will do what we can to help. Revenue has been down this year, and we have other requests, but we will do our best to contribute to the libraries.”

Also speaking to commissioners, Tom Cooper from the Office of Emergency Management informed members that OEM had received grant funding for a 11,000 lb. generator to be used in the Tyler County region. A public bid will be necessary to contract the job, explained Cooper. Other grant requests in the works are for light plants and scrambled radios for the sheriff’s department. These projects are funded through the Department of Homeland Security and are one hundred per cent reimbursed, he added. Cooper asked the commission to be fiscal agent for the grant funding. The request was granted.

County commission also agreed to be fiscal agent for a $5,000 grant that will be applied for by the Tyler Rod and Gun Club with the help of Rep. Roger Romine. The funding is allocated through the Community Partnership Grant Program and if secured, will be used for the Handicapped Hunt and Hooked on Fishing programs.

In other business, Bud Wagner was re-appointed to a two-year term on the board of the Tyler County Solid Waste Authority, James McMullen was appointed to replace County Commissioner Eric Vincent for a two-year term on the Tyler County Development Authority, and Christy Richmond was approved for a one-year term on the TCDA.

In a final note, commission President advised that there had been some confusion regarding the employment of Sarah Smith in the County Clerk’s office. “Just for the record, I would like it known that the clerk Sarah Smith is not my wife. She and my wife have the same name, and that is creating some questions.”

Those in attendance at the Tuesday meeting included: Eric Vincent, Charles “Pork” Smith, Vice President John Stender, Dave Mordan, Tom Gump, Amy Glover, Heather Weekley, Susan Reilly, Rosanne Eastham, Carol Ann Kucharski, Karen Smith, Tom Cooper and County Assessor Jack Hayes.