Public Safety Committee forwards $53,275 JAG award, recommends mayor sign intergovernmental agreement

The Huntington Public Safety Committee voted to forward to full council an ordinance and a resolution that would authorize Mayor Farrell to accept a $53,275 FY24 Edward J. Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and to enter an intergovernmental agreement with Cabell County.

The committee’s recommendation, made during a regular Public Safety Committee meeting, follows a presentation by Chief Phil Watkins of the Huntington Police Department, who said the city’s total award is $53,275 and described a continuing split of grant funds with the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department. "Our department will receive, 2 thirds, of the money, which is $35,516.66, while the sheriff's department will receive 1 third, which equals $17,758.33," Chief Watkins said.

Why it matters: the JAG program is a federal Department of Justice formula grant used by local law-enforcement agencies for equipment, training and other eligible activities. The committee’s forward action sends both an ordinance to authorize the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with Cabell County and a resolution authorizing the mayor to accept the grant’s standard assurances and conditions to the full City Council for final approval.

Chief Watkins told the committee the award, although labeled FY24, was not issued until December 2024 and was formally acknowledged in February 2025. "Accordingly, the grant performance period is retroactive and runs from 09/30/2023 through 09/30/2027," he said. During the meeting a committee member asked whether the grant requires a local match; Watkins answered, "No." The committee did not record additional conditions or dissent during the discussion.

Two formal committee actions were taken. For the ordinance authorizing the mayor to enter an intergovernmental agreement with Cabell County pursuant to the JAG award, a member moved and another seconded that the committee forward the ordinance to the full council with a favorable recommendation; members present voted by voice in the affirmative. For the resolution to accept the standard assurances and conditions of the FY24 JAG award, the committee likewise moved, seconded and forwarded the resolution to the full council with a favorable recommendation; a committee member volunteered to sponsor the resolution at council.

Next steps: both items now go to the full Huntington City Council. If the council approves the ordinance and resolution, the mayor would be authorized to enter the intergovernmental agreement with Cabell County and accept the grant’s standard assurances and conditions. No timeline for council consideration was specified during the committee meeting.