Boys and Girls Club asks Meigs County for funds after construction delay

Kea McDow, who identified herself as program staff with the North County Boys and Girls Club, asked Meigs County commissioners to consider allocating county funds to help resume construction and programming after a fire marshal review required new engineering and contractor work.

"During the 2025 to 2026 school year, the Boys and Girls Club held about 78 prevention sessions" for kindergarten through 12th grade, McDow said, listing program topics including opioid and drug awareness, refusal skills, mental-health awareness and healthy relationships. She summarized measured outcomes: "about 72% of participants showed growth in prevention knowledge...84% of elementary participants show growth in recognizing trusted adults."

McDow said a review by the fire marshal required updated blueprints and professional engineering and architectural work, which she estimated cost roughly $60,000 and halted construction. She told the commission that the organization has not yet been able to spend prior county funds because of the delay and asked for a portion of available program money to keep the project moving.

Commissioners asked brief questions about the remaining program funds and the group’s prior awards; McDow said the organization had previously received support and that some previously allocated funds remain in their account but could not be used while construction was paused. The commission did not take a vote during the segment; staff will consider funding requests as part of the budget and program allocation process.

McDow closed by asking the county to consider the request so the club could resume construction and continue prevention work in local schools.