The Logan County Commission presented the municipalities each with $70,000 in funding for law enforcement out of the fire and ambulance service levy.
Reportedly Logan, Man and Chapmanville received $20,000 each with the smaller towns receiving $5,000 each from the funding.
County Commission President Art Kirkendoll said the commission saw potential for economic growth a few years ago and wanted to write a 5-year levy.
"We guessed there would be enough growth to raise additional funds for police protection," Kirkendoll said. "We guessed right."
Kirkendoll said law enforcement agencies across the county had benefited, from the sheriff's department, which currently has 20 deputies, to municipal departments which have received funding to buy new patrol vehicles and equipment or to hire extra officers.
Kirkendoll said he believes the 5-year plan is a good idea as local businesses and industry picked up the brunt of the funding.
"Not one coal company balked at it," Kirkendoll noted.
Kirkendoll had more good news for the towns.
The county received a grant from the state to help pay for a countywide cleanup effort. The funds will be utilized to pay tipping fees during the clean up. A tentative date for the county-wide clean up has not been set yet, but some municipalities like West Logan are planning on having their own cleanup projects take place the same week in order to coordinate with the county's effort, which will take place for several days at four different sites.
Kirkendoll said the state put up $75,000 to pay tipping fees thanks to a grant worked on by Paul Hardesty, Rocky Adkins, Danny Godby and Willie Akers. Kirkendoll said Logan County had picked up two million pounds of rubbish to haul off during past cleanups.
"That's a lot of garbage." Kirkendoll said, adding that with the free pickup during the county-wide cleanup there was no reason for people to abandon trash by the side of the road.
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