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County board approves disbursements of 708 grants, IT Department renovations

The Knox County Board approved the disbursement of grants from the 708 Board of Mental Health at Wednesday night’s meeting.

708 Board Chairman Greg “Chopps” Bacon was in attendance and answered questions from the county board.

Bacon said that the board is set to receive over $1.2M from the referendum, and the board will be disbursing funds quarterly to entities that provide services to Knox County residents.

“They do serve a lot of Knox County residents,” Bacon said. “Everybody serves somebody in Knox County and that’s how we [chose grant recipients]. If they didn’t serve [any residents of] Knox County we wouldn’t [give them any money]”

Entities that received grant money include KCCDD, DD Homes, Bridgeway, and a handful of out-of-county groups like Rainbow Riders and Camp Big Sky.

Some discussion took place regarding administrative expenses the Treasurer’s office accumulates from the disbursement of funds.

Board member David Erickson suggested that future discussion should take place regarding charging for administrative expenses.

Bacon said that he had no issues with the 708 board paying the county for the work.

The board also approved IT Department renovations at the Knox County Courthouse.

The work includes moving the ceiling, addition of acoustic treatment, moving duct work, and installing new – more energy efficient lighting at a cost of $14,710 .

The vote didn’t go without controversy as board members Pamela Davidson, Cheryl Nache, and John Hunigan voted against the item.

Davidson gave her reasoning for not voting in favor of the recommendation.

“I would like to say… I’m vote no for MSI because MSI did [the emergency furnace installation work over the winter] and here we have to redo MSI’s work so I’m voting no,” Davidson said. “Not for it not to be done, because we definitely need an IT facility and it’s best to have it in the courthouse.”

MSI officials have refuted Davidson’s claims.

Hein Construction had also submitted a bid, but it was for over $16,000 .

Also approved last night was the request for a conditional use permit for Henn House BBQ to operate a facility on residential property to prepare and store food.

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