Juvenile Court to get more county money
Commission allots $569,783
The Shelby County Commission approved on Monday a budget amendment that gave $569,783 to Juvenile Court for expenditures that include additional personnel and court upgrades.
The expenses are necessary to keep the court in compliance with the memorandum of agreement between the county, the court and the U.S. Department of Justice, documents from Juvenile Court noted. In 2012, a DOJ study found widespread discrimination within the court and mandated sweeping changes.
The expenses approved on Monday include $250,000 to install bulletproof safety glass for the judicial chambers, $150,000 for the replacement of doors and windows and $24,000 for DOJ monitoring.
The commission approved a $100,000 expenditure to hire G.S. Proctor & Associates to provide lobbying services in Washington, D.C.
The commission also approved on Monday $99,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations, funds that represent the $100,000 each commissioner has been allocated to donate to a nonprofit group or toward a community enhancement project.
Commissioners George Chism and Milton awarded $30,000 to the Cooper-Young Business Association for its project to add solar-powered lighted safety walks on each side of the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue.
The Rise Foundation was awarded $15,000 from commissioners Willie Brooks, Eddie Jones and Van Turner for financial literacy training.
The New Ballet Ensemble a nd School received $5,0 0 0 f rom Commissioner Reginald Milton for its scholarship program.
The Power Center Community Development Corp. received $16,000 from commissioners Justin Ford, Turner and Jones toward Phase I of its Eden Square Town Center single family residential development.
Pinky Promise International was awarded $28,000 by commissioners Chism, Brooks, Milton, Jones and Ford for programing that addresses the moral, behavioral, academic and social needs of youth.
Brooks also gave $5,000 to the Raleigh Community Council for communication and outreach efforts.