DTF gets back some funding

NEW CUMBERLAND - The Hancock-Brooke-Weirton Drug Task Force will receive funding that will make up for some of the grant money cut from them earlier in the year, Hancock County Sheriff Mike White informed the Hancock County Commission at their meeting.

The funding includes $56,000 for salaries, to be split between the three entities, $50,318 for overtime and equipment, and $50,809 for Oak Glen and Weir Middle Schools' PRO officers.

White said the salary funds would not be enough alone to pay Hancock County's task force officer, but added, "The department is going to have to pay salaries no matter what."

White announced to the commission in April that the task force's grant had been cut by 67 percent but was being supplemented by Governor Joe Manchin III with money from a lawsuit against Purdue Pharma. One stipulation, though, was that the supplemental funding could not be used for salaries.

"Even though our grants were cut, our program is still good, and the state recognized that," White said, adding that the task force is a quiet agency who nonetheless is very active, efficient, and responsible for many of the larger cases in the county. "They're very good at what they do and are very established in the area."

White said the grants for task forces continue to be cut year after year and that, "We were lucky this year," adding that credit should be given to the governor and Justice Services for keeping the programs going.

The commission also approved the polling sites for November's election, which included three changes, in precincts 3, 17, and 18. The polling sites are:

Grant District

1- Allen T. Allison Elementary School

2- Chester VFD

3- Newell Lions Club

4- Wells Center

5- Lawrenceville VFD

6- Hancock County Senior Center

7- Holiday Inn Express

8- New Manchester Elementary

9- New Manchester VFD

Clay District

10- New Cumberland City Building

11- Point Pleasant Church

12- Oakland VFD

13- Get Together Picnic Ground

14- Weirton Company #1 Fire Department County Road

15- Dunbar Center

16- Weirton Senior Center

17- Marland Heights Lions Club

18- Marland Heights Community Center

19- Hancock County Sheltered Workshop

Butler District

20- Weir Middle School

21- Hancock County Sheltered Workshop

22- Weirton Heights Elementary School

23- Liberty School

24- WV Northern Community College

25- Liberty School

26- Weirton Heights Fire Department - Gilson Avenue

27- Broadview Elementary School

28- United Methodist Church - Pennsylvania Avenue

In other business, the Hancock County Commission:

Responded to a communication from the New Manchester Civic Association, inquiring if there had been some delay in beginning repairs to the swimming pool at Tomlinson Run State Park. The commissioners stated that the repairs were not expected to begin until October and that as such, nothing was amiss.

Approved a request from the Hancock County 911 Advisory Board to reappoint its members. The board also advised that there are two open seats.

Approved a request from Mark Vignovic to reappoint him to the Hancock County Solid Waste Authority.