Two entities are doing their part to support the development of downtown Parsons. Ron Marker from the Parsons Revitalization Organization (PRO) and leaders from the city of Parsons presented their ideas to the Tucker County Commission on Tuesday.

Marker gave the commissioners a brief update on his organization's efforts to revitalize the entire downtown. Marker reported that engineers and architects have developed plans for many of the buildings in a block on First Street. An architect's plans for the old bank building will be submitted shortly, according to Marker.

Also, PRO is trying to find funds for a matching grant. Marker hopes the commission can assist in any way because he believes that the goals of PRO will help not only Parsons but the entire county in the long run.

"We are diligently looking for grants," Marker told commissioners. "The main thing is that we all have to work together and get something happening in Parsons and Tucker County."

This sentiment was echoed when Parsons City Administrator Jason Myers and Mayor Dorothy Judy spoke about the Downtown Master Plan as well as a grant that will replace sidewalks, benches, lights and shrubbery along First and Second streets. Judy told commissioners the city is hoping to get approximately $30,000 for the project that will aid in replacing nearly 50 percent of the sidewalks on county property at the courthouse. Myers and Judy said they hope working with the city to improve Parsons and the county would be on the commission's priority list.

"All of us working together is what it's going to take," the mayor told commissioners.

The city will be returning to hear the outcome of its request at the first December commission meeting.

In other issues, Commission President Tom Carr and E911 Director Darla Stemple will be sending around 72 photos of brush and other potential flood wall hazards to an inspector this week. Carr and Stemple walked the wall in various locations along the Black Fork and Shavers Fork rivers noting areas of interest.

Commissioners want to have an inspector come to Tucker County and advise the commission on what it needs to do to ensure the durability of the wall. Carr said that in many areas there is brush between the wall and the river which could cause a problem during high water. Two locations the commissioner made note of have holes in the wall's structure.

Karen Jacobson with Tucker County Connections will have to wait until the next meeting to see if her request for funding can be met. This year's program cost a little less than $1,000 and she is hoping the commission can help commit to the program.

Tucker County Connections is usually a three-day event involving fifth-graders from both middle schools. This year, however, because of concerns from teachers and Tucker County Board of Education members, the program was reduced to one day. Jacobson said she is working with the board and teachers to possibly have a similar event in the spring.

In other commission business, road signs and posts have arrived and county crews will begin installing them within a couple weeks, according to Stemple.

The commission will also begin advertising for the county grant writer position.

The next meeting of the Tucker County Commission will be at 9 a.m. Dec. 9 in the Tucker County Courthouse courtroom.