The Monroe County Commissioners met on Dec. 31 for their last meeting of 2012. The meeting had a light agenda with few appointments due to the holiday. However, several motions were passed during the brief meeting.

Commissioners made the 2013 county budget official with the passing of Resolution 38-12. The resolution is an “Annual Appropriation Resolution for permanent appropriations.” Total appropriations for the general fund in 2013 will be $5,156,455.24. Total appropriations for other funds in 2013 will be $15,853,833.29. That brings Monroe County’s budget in 2013 to a total of $21,010,288.53.

Another motion which passed addressed an issue that had been brought up during the Nov. 19 commissioners’ meeting. At that time, a public hearing and road viewing had been held in regards to closing off one entrance of Jackson Township Road 753 to make it a one way road.

Larry Koher, a resident on the road, pushed for the closure of the entrance because he viewed its exit onto SR 800 as a “blind death trap”. Leah Ridgeway, an area resident, opposed closing the entrance due to accessibility issues for emergency situations.