MONROE COUNTY, W.VA — County Clerk Donald Evans has been the force behind $1 million in funding, mostly courthouse improvement grants. It’s not part of his job, but he put in the time to research and apply for money to upgrade county facilities.
The West Virginia Courthouse Improvement Authority has been a major source of courthouse improvement grants for restoring Monroe County courtroom’s windows, installing a chairlift to improve access to its second floor, creating a basement office for the sheriff’s deputies and more, Evans told the Register-Herald.
More than $500,000 in courthouse improvement grants has paid for the projects. But Evans, Monroe County’s enterprising, unofficial grant coordinator, has also acquired Homeland Security, Court Security, state energy efficiency and West Virginia Records Management and Preservation grants. With these funds, he’s preserved centuries-old court documents, replaced a $40,000 courthouse boiler, upgraded to new, efficient light fixtures and more.
During my nearly six years in office, he’s kept us from having to borrow money or use county money to pay for these projects. He just knows so many people and knows who to go to in order to get the grants,” said Monroe County Commission President, Clyde Gum Jr.
