Commissioners Approve $8.7M In LSA Monies

Washington County Commissioners awarded $8.7 million in Local Share Account Grant monies on Thursday. Fifty projects will share in those awards in 2024. The approval vote from commissioners was 3-0. The approval was not without controversy. Earlier this week, Commissioner Larry Maggi asked why the Washington City Mission was initially on the list for a grant of $500,000 and roughly a week later they were removed. Walt Turner sits on the Board of Directors of the City Mission and during public comment, he asked that very question. The request was to help fund a 50 bed homeless women’s shelter that is currently under development. Outgoing President and CEO, Dean Gartland and Chief Development Officer, Dr. Sally Mounts both addressed commissioners with their disappointment about being eliminated from consideration. Commissioner Chairman Nick Sherman stated that the approval made today was from a revised list of recipients. According to Sherman, officially, there were never two communications made to grant recipients and he is not sure if a board member may have leaked information to the City Mission before it was official. Washington County received $9.2 million dollars in LSA monies this year. According to Sherman, that $500,000 that was not awarded to the City Mission will be carried over into next year’s awards. Sherman did state that commissioners will be meeting with the City Mission on how to apply for grants next year. Gartland will not be involved in that process as new President and CEO of the City Mission will be former County Commissioner Diana Irey-Vaughan.