MADISON – Boone County Commission was informed of two community participation grants it received for local projects. “Boone County state Delegate Larry Barker turned in some community participation grant applications that were approved by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin,” Boone County Economic Development official Larry Lodato told commissioners at the regular meeting on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. Lodato said the governor approved a $7,000 grant to continue the work the Madison VFW Post 5578 is doing for the Veterans Memorial on the By-Pass Road. Lodato said that Delegate Barker also had a grant approved by the governor for $5,000 for the Coal Heritage Museum and Boone County Arts Center, both on Main Street in Madison, to assist with improvements, expansion projects, new display signage, and exhibits. The commission passed two resolutions to accept the grants and continue to support the projects. • In other commission news from the Tuesday, May 29, 2012, Boone County Sheriff Rodney Miller asked the commission permission to used Software Systems to use and mail tax notices in July as has been done in the past. To cost for printing and stuffing the tax bills is $1,352.38, according to county administrator Jim Gore. He said the amount would come out of the sheriff’s office supply line, based on last year’s numbers. “It could be a little more or a little less,” Gore said. Postage cost would be approximately $12,082.30. The request was unanimously approved by the commission. • Boone Memorial Hospital requested a letter of support for the hospital board and administration in regard to building a new hospital or replacing old parts of the hospital. Commissioners agreed to sign the letter of recommendation. • Approved a request from the Boone County Firefighters Mutual Aide Association for a $5,000 contribution to help with the state fire convention is scheduled for the Boone County district. The convention will be at the Earl Ray Tomblin Convention Center and the money would be used for expenses to host the convention. The commission unanimously approved the request. • Received a letter from the Boone County Health Dept. inviting the county commission to attend an upcoming health risk workshop scheduled for Thursday, June 28, at noon at the health department office. • The commission unanimously approved status changes for two county employees was approved. Jared Thomas was changed from part-time to full-time with full benefits effective June 11, 2012, in general maintenance/construction. Michael Wooten was also changed from part-time to full-time with full benefits effective June 1, 2012 in solid waste/truck driver 2 and county mechanic. • Request Russell Thomas, director of Boone County Parks & Recreation, for a contribution of $49,918.33 from the county commission to offset the cost for construction of ball fields at Racine at Water Ways in Julian. The contribution request was unanimously approved by the county commission. • The commission agreed to fill an open spot on the Boone County Parks & Recreation Board with Chad Toney of Ashford. • Commission opened two bids for energy efficent USA manufactured lighting for courthouse and five other buildings. The low bid was from Barker’s Hardware for $123,446.07 and the other bid was from Byrnside Hardware for $143,500. • Commission opened two bids for Lick Creek Park sports lighting project. The low bid was from David E. Barger, with AEP, for $331,000 and the other bid was from Kyvoa Electric for $339,872.