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$2.6 million earmarked for social services Clay County is making plans for a new department of social services building in order to make use of $2.6 million before a federal deadline, County Manager Paul Leek said July 3. The money, which had been earmarked by the USDA two years ago, had been set aside for the construction of the new jail but was left untouched. Leek told the board of commissioners that the county is in the process of interviewing four architectural firms to design a new facility but that things had "gone south" since the board last met with firms to enter into a contract on design, not construction. Commissioner Harry Jarrett said their was a deadline on the decision. "The reason we're doing this now is that we have to have the plans by a certain tme in order to qualify with the state [to] reimburse 60 percent of the plans," he said. Commissioners granted Leek authority over the issue once a firm was eventually chosen. "We need to take some action and design this so they'll hold onto that a bit longer for us," Leek told the board. The Work First program, which provides grant money that funds child welfare, was voted on by commissioners as well. The program helps people find employment as opposed to providing welfare checks, Leek said. Jarrett said that the two year grant is for $155,306, specifically that there is a federal share and that the county is required by law to provide a share as well. Commissioners approved the program after Leek noted the positive results. They appointed the planning committee for the program: Stephen Sellers, Paul Leek, David Setzer, Nancy Chastain, Anita McFadden, Judith Alvarado, Becky Smith, Teresa Waldroup, Mickey Crisp, Ruth Rogers and Debbie Mumm. The kitchen for the new jail has been completed, Leek said, though the addition was still awaiting final inspection. He said the kitchen would be operational by the middle of the month. Plans are to pour concrete for the new sheriff's office July 9, he said. Commissioner Hub Cheeks said that the magistrate's office had successfully moved into the old jail building. Jack Parish of the Friends of the Library cancelled his appearance that had been scheduled for the commissioners meeting.
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