Thursday’s meeting of the Hancock County Commission found Commissioner Tommy Ogden asking for time to find out more information about a $800,000. 00 donation request from the Opioid Funds received by the county while Commissioners Eron Chek and Paul Cowey stood firm on the donation.
Ogden said he had asked for a workshop on the opioid fund distribution to evaluate all the funding requests. No workshop, however, was held and the Family Care Excellence was placed on the agenda Thursday without notice. The faith-based organization is not credentialed by the State of West Virginia nor does the facility, located on Pyramus Road in Chester have social workers who are licensed.
Josh Lytle, who serves as president of the organization, said if someone who is an opioid addict is brought to them they contact a facility with the capacity to treat them. He said the facility houses families who may stay while they get back on their feet. He said many of them are couples with babies. The website said a tuition cost of $500 is levied, but no one is turned away for lack of ability to pay.
Despite Ogden’s plea to get more information on a proposal to award $100,000.00 to construct a building for Family Care Excellence, a non-credentialed faith-based organization in Chester, the proposal passed 2 to 1 with Ogden voting no. Ogden made a motion to table the proposal until further information could be obtained, but Chek and Cowey voted against it.
The organization, whose website describes it as “for those who find hope in Jesus” had originally sought $800,000.00. The amount was changed to $100,000.00 after a motion by Cowey.
Ogden said the organization is seeking money for a 24X48 building, Ogden questioned the amount being listed per square footage saying it was high for a building that size. He also questioned the lack of specifics being provided for the project. An opioid funding workshop is supposed to be held in the near future.
Josh Lytle is listed as the president of the organization which describes itself as Christ-Centered. The group was founded in 2017 in Ohio and a men’s residence is located in a donated house. It is located in the former residence of Mary Beth Taylor on Pyramus Road, Chester. Lytle said the original funding was for a 60 x 120, two story building that would handle events. The organization holds fund raisers with the most recent being a gun giveaway.
When asked what percentage of those who live or on in the program at Family Care Excellence are West Virginia residents vs being Ohio residents, Lytle did not have those statistics.
In other business, the Commissioners:
**Approved the following internal budget transfers: County Commission – $1,500.00; Courthouse – $52,000.00; Emergency Services – $8,925.00; and Parks & Recreation;
**Accepted the FY 25-26 Grant for America 29 Mural Project;
**Approved the order of demolition for 2825 Middle Run Road;
**Agreed to advertise for a proposal for Workers Comp coverage for fy 27;
**Accepted a proposal for Hancock County Health Department’s new garage;
**Appointed Pam Riggi as a Hancock County Museum member;
**Approved the hiring of Tami Reed as a deputy clerk in the County Clerk’s office;
**Approved the hiring of Harlee Heldreth as a full-time 911 dispatcher;
**Approved the hiring of Benjamin Dobkin as a full-time assistant prosecuter;
**Set its next regular meeting for April 9 at 2:30 p.m.
