Despite not meeting criteria for submitting plans for the structure they plan to construct and further information required, two of the County Commissioners voted to increase the $100,000 awarded to Family Care Excellence, a non-credentialed, faith-based organization, to $500,000. The Opioid distribution previously agreed upon included funds to pay the Regional Jail bill which will now be paid out of General Funds.
Each organization requesting funds was required to have an agreed-to memorandum of understanding with the Commission. Family Care Excellence was twice asked at workshops on the application to produce information Asst. Prosecutor Mike Lucas thought was important. Neither time was the information provided. West Virginia First Foundation, the Gubernatorial appointed organization overseeing the distribution of the funds specified that awards be evidence based.
Some of the information requested included: the number of West Virginia residents served versus Ohio residents. Though it was requested twice, that number has never been provided. The Board of Family Care Excellence consists entirely of Ohio residents with the exception of one Weirton residence, Pastor Gary Lilly. Pastor Josh Lytle, head of the organization, maintains no one is ever charged for the services. A Family Care brochure requests sponsorship of $45/month by the community to fund services. Fundraisers are also held by the Family Care Excellence, one of which was a gun raffle.
Commissioner Tommy Ogden objected to the $400,000 increase saying the commission still did have the information requested. Commissioners Eron Check and Paul Cowey voted in favor of the increase.
Opioid funds awarded also included $156,000 to the County Prosecutor’s office to be disbursed over 3 years. A memorandum of understanding between the Commission and Mount Olive Baptist Church for Opioid funds was approved as was an MOU with the WVU Extension Office for the distribution of Funds. The Commission approved a MOU with Bless This Child Ministries c/o Brooke Hancock Family Resource Network.
In other business, the Commission:
**Appointed Liz Lundberg and Bernie Virden to the Hancock County Park and Recreation Board;
**Approved hiring Brook McMillan as a field deputy in the Hancock County Assessor’s office;
**Approved payment of General County Bills of $161,623.80 and Purchasing Card bills of $9,630;
**Approved advertising for a Oakland PSD board member;
**A motion to set a timeline for considering the next round of Opioid Funding Applications and awarding funds died for lack of a 2nd;
