by Geoff Fox
Washington County Commissioners were set to decide Tuesday whether or not to fund a request from Interfaith Service Coalition to repair the foundation of Martha’s House.
The funds could come from the Commissioner Contingency.
According to the agenda for the August 26 county meeting, there was a recommendation to approve the request for a one-time use of the Commissioner Contingency funding for the ISC in an amount not to exceed $39,000, for expenses associated with the foundation repairs to Martha’s House.
ISC has provided county staff with all the requested documents and a building and zoning permit was issued to their selected contractor on June 9 of this year.
County staff recommended the funds be disbursed on a reimbursement basis and would require ISC to submit proof of work completed from the contractor prior to payment. 
At a Board of Commissioners meeting on February 24, the commissioners directed county staff to work with ISC regarding their request for funding in an amount not to exceed the $39,000, for the one-time expenses associated with the Martha’s House foundation repairs.
ISC is working with officials to have Martha’s House designated as the county’s only warming/cooling station in Hancock.
In anticipation of the designation, ISC had added solar panels and a gas generator to the property at 49 West Main Street.
A pull-down staircase was ordered earlier this year and will be installed on the side of the building leading to the generator.
It was during the designation process ISC discovered there was a separation in the floor/foundation in the basement or ground floor of Martha’s House.
ISC has consulted with a structural engineer to perform the repairs, which are currently underway.
The south wall of the building is sinking due to washout and loose soil below the existing footing.
Funding is needed to underpin the south wall to stabilize the foundation and install new footing on stable soil.
The commissioners met as the paper was going to press.
