Hancock Commission approves PRO agreement
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NEW CUMBERLAND -- After more than a month of discussions, the Hancock County Commission approved Thursday its portion of an agreement to provide prevention resource officers to several of the county's schools.
Commissioner Eron Chek explained commissioners have been meeting with representatives of the Hancock County Board of Education to discuss the contract, and have come to an agreement.
"It's been amended. The agreement is good for all parties," she said.
The agreement for the PRO program initially went before the commission at its July 27 meeting, being tabled over concerns with the funding allotment for the program.
Under the agreement, sheriff's deputies are assigned to Allison Elementary, New Manchester Elementary, Oak Glen Middle, Oak Glen High, and the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center, with a "rover" to be stationed at the Alternative Learning Center when not needed to fill in at other locations.
While no specifics were discussed at the meeting, Sheriff Scott Gittings noted the new agreement needed "just a couple of tweaks."
Even though an approved agreement had not been in place for the beginning of the school year, the Hancock County Sheriff's Department was able to continue providing deputies to serve at the schools in the interim.
Hancock County Assistant Superintendent of Schools Dave Smith was in attendance at Thursday's commission meeting, offering his thanks.
"Thank you guys. We appreciate it," Smith said, addressing the commissioners.
Smith said the agreement would go before the school board for its approval.
The school board also has an agreement in place with Weirton Council to provide officers as PROs at Weir High, Weir Middle and Weirton Elementary.
In a related matter Thursday, commissioners also approved a request from Gittings to apply for the Justice Assistance Grant renewal for the PRO program, covering the 2023-24 fiscal year. The grant's term will run from Oct 1 to Sept. 30, 2024.
In other business Thursday, the commissioners:
• Approved the reappointments of Sarah Cale, Corinna Meyers and Nick Travis to the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board;
• Approved the County Assessor's supplemental salary and agricultural compensation, as established under state code;
• Reappointed John Plesa to the Hancock County Board of Health;
• Agreed to advertise a Request for Proposal for the Gas Valley Stream Mitigation project;
• Agreed to advertise for an open position of office administrator for the Prosecuting Attorney's Office;
• Agreed to pay Thomas R. Cox for 90 sick days following his recent retirement;
• Tabled a request to hire full-time personnel for the county animal shelter, with Chek questioning the number of personnel being hired;
• Agreed to hire Tracie Hinzman as a full-time 911 dispatcher, effective Sept. 16;
• Agreed to hire Emilie Troutman as a deputy clerk in the Circuit Clerk's Office, effective Sept. 5.