Washington County Commissioners Charlie Schilling, center, and James Booth, right, discussed an application for the 2024 Community Housing Impact and Preservation program grant during Thursday’s regular commission meeting. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

The Washington County Commission approved the 2025 CHIP application for grant funding during Wednesday’s meeting.

The meeting was moved to Wednesday morning due to the county’s recognition of Juneteenth today.

The Community Housing Impact and Preservation program is federally funded and the requested funds will be available for homeowners.

The $936,100 will come through the Ohio Department of Development with a grant period from December 2025 to April 2028.

“Just about a million dollars, and we did a lot of good with that,” said Commissioner Charlie Schilling.

The county will be partnering with Marietta and Belpre on the project, which will focus primarily on repairs for low- to moderate-income households in the county. The funds go toward emergency home repairs for anything from plumbing to roofing.

A public hearing with Washington-Morgan Community Action was held after the regular meeting to further discuss the resolution with the public. The county is in need of local contractors who can help with these home repairs.

The commissioners will be responsible for ensuring all elements of the grant agreement are carried out, according to the CHIP agreement. The cities of Marietta and Belpre are required to provide the commissioners with the necessary information needed to comply with the agreement.

The commissioners present, Schilling and James Booth, said they were in full support of the CHIP program. Commissioner Eddie Place was absent.

The commissioners entered into a memorandum of understanding with Steven Venham, a volunteer with the sheriff’s office’s drone unit. There was also an MOU for Duane Brannan who will be working on a volunteer-basis as a drone operator.

“We currently have two reserve units which are non-employed volunteers with the sheriff’s office,” said Davis Powers, who is on the sheriff’s drone unit. “The reserve program has been going on for many years now.”

The MOU is to cover the unpaid, volunteer individuals working with the sheriff’s department.

“We see not only the sheriff’s office but the local volunteer fire departments are utilizing drone technology that’s very helpful and really getting out in front of things,” said Schilling.

Booth shared a story about how drones were used on a suspect in Lowell and the situation was handled calmly due to the view drones provided.

Another MOU between the Washington County Home and the Health Department continued an agreement for the home to provide services for the health department such as vaccinations and health care services.

“It’s been amazing; it saves us at least $20,000,” said Health Department Administrative Director Sherry Ellem.

The Washington County Department of Job and Family Services entered a contract with Full Circle Recovery Services which will last from June 23, 2025, to June 30, 2026.

“This is a $50,000 contract but it gives people a chance not to fall back into the same cycle,” said Booth. “This is the sheriff’s vision, breaking that cycle, and I’m in full support.”

Stated in the contract, Full Circle Recovery Services will provide the necessary resources to assist individuals released from jail. The goal is to prevent the chance of relapse.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com