POMEROY — The Meigs County Commissioners approved a resolution for a critical infrastructure grant program.

The resolution, approved by a unanimous vote, will submit an application to the program on behalf of the Village of Syracuse. The program is for a maximum of $300,000.

The Village of Syracuse would use $279,900 for a project which would include rehabbing and increasing the size of the village water well. The project will also include replacement of electrical components on the well, replacing two hydrants and replacing the water line to them with a larger line.

Fred Hoffman, village grants administrator, thanked the commissioners for their support on behalf of the village.

Public hearings for the grant project were held on May 30 and June 13 during the commissioner’s meetings. Representatives from the Syracuse water board were present at the first meeting, with Hoffman present at the second.

According to discussions at the meeting on Thursday, the Village of Pomeroy had also been interested in the funding for slip repair.

The commissioners could submit only one project for consideration.

A decision on the funding is expected later in the year.

The Meigs County fair housing resolution was also approved during the meeting. The resolution states,

discrimination in the sale, rental, leasing, financing of housing or land to be used for construction of housing, or in the provision of brokerage services because of race, color, religion, ancestry, military status, sex, national origin, handicap, of disability is prohibited by Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 and the Ohio Civil Rights commission. It is the policy of the Meigs County Commissioners to implement programs to ensure equal opportunity in housing for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, military status, sex, national origin, handicap or disability, of familial status.

Bills were approved in the amount of $309,754.09, with $27,789.80 from county general. Minutes from the previous meeting were also approved.

The commissioners meet each Thursday at 11 a.m.

Horton E. Thomas, 83, passed away on June 8, 2013. He was born August 19, 1929, to Everett and Clara Thomas in Pomeroy, Ohio.

He moved to Brunswick, Ohio, to raise his family with his wife, Geraldine. Horton and Geraldine moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, when their nest was empty for warmer weather and a longer golf season. He retired from IBM after 35 years. In recent years, they moved back to Columbus to be nearer to children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Mr. Thomas will be dearly missed by his six children. He is survived by his children: Kenneth (Susan) Thomas of Gahanna, Ohio, Robert (Marilyn) Thomas of Centerburg, Ohio, William (Cheryl) Thomas of Columbus, Ohio, Mark (Rhonda) Thomas of Chillicothe, Ohio, Edith (Ron) Stollar of Medina, Ohio, and Kathleen (Jim) Ozment of Poquoson, Va. ; loving grandchildren, Amanda, Dana, Evan, Jeffrey, Laurie, Bryan, Jeremy, Paul, Jacob, Sarah, Mary, John, David, Jordan; and eight great-grandchildren; sister, Fay (Gene) DeWees; and sister-in-law, Carolyn Thomas.

He was greeted in Heaven by his wife Geraldine, his parents, and his brothers, Eugene and Donald.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 22, at Woodlands Assisted Living Facility at 2469 Kimberly Parkway East, Columbus, Ohio, 43232.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Gideons.

Jack A. Ratliff, 87, of Gallipolis, and formerly of Vinton, Ohio, died at his residence on June 18, 2013, after a short battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 22, 2013, at the Deer Creek Freewill Baptist Church, Vinton, Ohio, with Pastor Mickey Maynard officiating. Burial will follow in Vinton Memorial Park with full Military Grave Side Rites conducted by Vinton American Legion Post 161. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, June 21 at the McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Vinton.