Whitley County hoping to secure CARES Act funding

The Whitley County Fiscal Court is seeking to reward county employees who have remained on the job through the COVID–19 pandemic.

At last Tuesday’s fiscal court meeting, the magistrates approved a resolution to file an application for Federal Coronavirus Relief Fund (CARES Act) money to provide an Employee Recognition Payment to essential county employees, including sheriff’s deputies, EMS employees, the county clerk’s office, road department, water department and others.

Judge-Executive Pat White, Jr. said the funding would provide an Employee Recognition Payment to the employees.

“We have some employees that have faced some really difficult circumstances,” White said. “Some of these services can’t close.”

While the dollar amount of the ERP has not been set, White said it would be a one-time payment.

“We are only allowed to do one payment a year,” White explained.

In other business the magistrates:

• Approved a request to reappoint Linda Carter to the Whitley County Library Board.
• Approved the renewal of the contract to hire employees to escort state inmate work crews. White said the county must file an application with the state to have these crews perform work for the county, such as at the recent Dumpster Days in Goldbug.