On Thursday, Jan. 10, Lookout Mountain Community Services chief clinical officer Marilyn Keller was on hand at the Walker County commissioner’s meeting to describe a new federal grant that would allow the community service to expand its outreach into Walker.

Keller described this opportunity as “a life-changing experience.”

In essence this program will allow the service to “help keep families together.”

“We have many families within Walker that have been separated by situations like abuse or poverty,” Keller said. “This program is designed to teach people the basics necessary to achieve a successful family environment.”

The program will include opportunities for parenting classes, along with aiding individuals with employment needs.

This is a $1 million grant that would be routed through the commissioner’s office to pay for additional staff to facilitate the program.

The local portion of the grant is tied to a much larger amount being sought by Lookout Mountain Community Services — $26 million dollars to be applied statewide for similar services.

Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell said, “I fully support this initiative on the part of Lookout Mountain Community Services. It is a very good opportunity for our county.”

Heiskell described the grant as federal dollars that must be applied for by the county.

Currently the community services are working to reunite 20 families in Walker and 20 families in Dade.

Keller described one family that is currently being served through Lookout Mountain Community Services. She explained that through the services intervention, the mother of the family is back at work while two children from the family are achieving honor roll grades at school.

No word was given as to when the county or the agency would receive the grant.

In other business at the commissioner’s meeting on Thursday, Jan. 10: * Stacy Mauer and Chip Catlett with the Walker county Chamber of Commerce made a presentation, recognizing the chamber's governmental partnership with the county.

* Heiskell signed a resolution adopting the Walker County Multi-Jurisdictional Solid Waste Management Plan. The state of Georgia requires all cities and counties to have a plan explaining how they are handling solid waste.

* Heiskell signed a statement of grant amount for the purchase of services for the juvenile offenders program. This is an additional $7,500 given to the Juvenile Courts to expand services.

* Heiskell signed agreements for engineering services with Consolidated Technologies Inc. for engineering services for Durham Trail Phases 2 And 3.

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