Friday's Internet Edition, March 12, 2010.

Holiday Harmony First Advent Christian Church choir members perform in Sunday’s Christmas Choirs Concert sponsored by the Roane Arts & Humanities Council. Pictured are: front (l-r) Karen Looney, Jean Nester and Erma Lou Garrett, and, in back, Andrew Harper, Gene Varney and Madge Varney. Photo by David Hedges

Roane County Commissioners David Boothe, Rodney Cox and John Greathouse signed a contract Tuesday to take part in a 90-day pilot program with the Wood County Day Report Center. The Wood facility recently opened a branch in Ripley, which would provide services to Roane offenders.

Jeff Williams of the Wood center said he had discussed the program with local magistrates as well as the probation officer, sheriff and prosecuting attorney Josh Downey.

“We seem to have a consensus among us that we can provide some valuable services to you,” Williams told commissioners.

The agreement offers the day report center as an alternative sentencing option for the county at a flat rate of $300 a month. A maximum of 15 clients will take part in the trial.

The money will be used to offset personnel costs as well as transportation of participants from Spencer to Ripley.

Williams said the county should see its regional jail costs decline while being able to offer services to offenders such as job training. He was granted access to the jail bills in order to show commissioners potential savings.

“I don’t see any way the county can lose anything by attempting this,” Downey said.

Once the trial period ends, commissioners will have the option to negotiate a long-term arrangement at a fee that has not been determined.

Russell Wade, a resident of Reedy, addressed the commission on another matter during their meeting at the courthouse. Wade said he had been arrested for an undisclosed reason as retaliation for speaking at the previous meeting about people placing a dog pen on Committee on Aging property in Reedy.

Wade said the complaint against him was “bogus” and that commissioners might want to look into it.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about and I don’t want to know,” Boothe, the commission president, said.

Commissioners said they had no knowledge of or control over who is arrested.

On a related subject, Boothe said some people had already expressed interest in leasing county-owned properties in Reedy that were part of a flood buyout. He also suggested that a lot where Reedy Baptist Church was located be used as a park with a basketball court.

Commissioners also voted to send a letter to the state Public Service Commission regarding the proposed sale of Verizon land phone lines to Frontier. The letter suggested by Cox will stress commissioners’ interest in preserving jobs, high-speed Internet access and customer service if the transaction is approved.

A representative of the Communications Workers of America appeared to ask for a resolution opposing the sale. Representatives of Verizon and Frontier spoke in favor of the sale.

Commissioners also:

ν Set a special session for Friday at 10:30 a.m. to consider a request from Jacob Fetty, marketing director for the city of Spencer. The city is asking for $2,500 from the county to be used as matching funds for a state tourism grant that would spend advertising dollars in out-of-town markets. Fetty attended Tuesday’s meeting, but no action could be taken because the item was not on the agenda.

Commissioners also:

ν Opened a single bid for rewiring the assembly hall at Camp Sheppard. The camp’s advisory committee will review the $36,000 bid from Barnett Electrical. They also awarded a $12,958 contract to Randolph Construction for the installation of new windows at the assembly hall. The work also includes venting gas stoves in the building’s basement.

ν Heard a report from Dick Wittberg of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Dept. Wittberg said 2,500 H1N1 vaccines had been given in Roane County to date, with another clinic set for Thursday, Dec, 17 from noon to 6 p.m. at the health department in Spencer. He said he expected another wave of the swine flu and seasonal flu in January.

ν Appointed Greg Stover to the county economic development authority to fill the unexpired term of David Kinison. Stover will serve until Dec. 31, 2010.

ν Decided to advertise for a full-time courthouse custodian to replace Charlie Lynch, who is retiring effective Dec, 31. A replacement is expected to be named when the commission meets on Jan. 12.

ν Learned that Daniel Goodwin planned to step down as chairman of the Local Emergency Planning Committee at the end of the month because of his job responsibilities.

ν Discussed a small parcel owned by the county on Reservoir Street in Spencer. A resident had complained about a neighbor driving on the property and creating a mess. Downey said he would research the matter to see what could be done.

ν Voted to close the courthouse on Wednesday, Dec. 24 for Christmas Eve to conform to a similar decision by the governor for state employees.

The next regular commission meeting will be Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 6:30 p.m.