COMMISSIONERS APPROVE PLACEMENT OF LIBRARY LEVY ON BALLOT

   Hancock County Commissioners approved the placement of the Library Renewal Levy to be placed on the November 8th General Election ballot.  Rik Rekowski, director of the Mary Weir Library, spoke to the Commissioners about the levy which he stressed is simply a renewal and not an increase.  He said the levy has stayed the same since it was first approved years ago, amounting to the cost of a paperback back at $4.99.   The levy is for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2023 and extending through July 1, 2027 and provides funds for the Mary H. Weir Public Library – $148,000.00 per fiscal year; Swaney Memorial Library – $24,436,00 per fiscal year and Lynn Murray Memorial Library – $27,408 per fiscal year.

    Commissioners voted to move two Weirton precincts for the upcoming November 8th General Election, Precinct 14 now voting at the County Road Fire Department  will be relocated to  the Covenant Church 200 Penn. Ave and Precent 17  from the Marland Heights Community Church to the Weirton Senior Center at 3424 Main Street.  Notice to the voters will be given by publication in the newspaper and by mailings provided to those voters residing the precincts.

In other business, the Commission:

**Made a request from the Route 2/I 68 Authority for funding in the amount of $4,000.00 a matter of record;

**Approved a request from Rosemary Guida of the Northern Panhandle Workforce Development Board to appoint current board member John Sorrenti to the Board’s Executive Committee;

**Approved a request from the Oakland Fire Department for a  5% funding match for a federal firefighters grant for new air packs;

**Approved a resolution to apply for a 2022 HAVA CARES ACT sub-grant;

**Reappointed Rainey Emerick to the Hancock County Parks & Recreation Board;

**Accepted the resignation of Tiffany Gale from the Hancock County Parks & Recreation Board;

**Accepted the resignation of Jennifer Walker from the Hancock County Animal Shelter;

**Granted approval to hire for the position of part-time animal care technician;

**Approved the acceptance of Sam Conrad and Erin Conrad into the Hancock County Sheriff’s Reserves;

**Approved the promotions of Deputy First Class Hugh Tate and Deputy First Class Tim Raines to the Rank of Sergeant effective July 15, 2022;

**Tabled the approval to enter into an agreement with the Hancock County Board of Education for the Preventive Resource Officer Program for FY 22/23