NEWPORT-Two resolutions to help local courts were approved by the Cocke County Legislative Body Monday evening.

The resolutions had been approved earlier in the evening by the Finance Committee, which met prior to the CLB meeting.

The first resolution dealt with requests by the Prevent Use and Abuse program and the Drug Court for funding from the DUI treatment fund.

County Finance Director Anne Williams said the county collects about $3,500 to $6,000 annually in the fund and now has a balance of about $36,000.

Judges Ben W. Hooper II and Duane Stone, along with Drug Court Coordinator Patty Williams, approached committee members about funds needed.

"We meet as a group to help people who are motivated to change their lives," said Stone. "We now have seven participants and we hope to have 30 in the next year and a half.

"It takes about a year and half to go through the process. But Drug Court Works because 86.7 percent of those do not return."

Jason Grooms spoke on behalf of the Prevent Use and Abuse program. "We're just asking for $12,500," said Grooms. "We will be getting a grant in May. This will help us until we get the grant."

Committee member Phil Killion moved to give Prevent Use and Abuse $12,500 and $23,000 to the Drug Court. The motion was approved by the committee and CLB.

The other resolution approved by both the committee and CLB was for an addition of court costs for defraying the cost of representing indigent defendants.

With state budget cuts, Ed Miller of the Public Defenders Office said Cocke County will lose its satellite office and could face job cuts if the $12.50 court fee isn't approved.

Judge Hooper said the Public Defenders Office has "more than it can carry. It would be devastating if that office suffers at all."

Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan said the issue has been debated the last couple of years. "Before, the only concern was whether they could guarantee the fees would stay in Cocke County and that's been resolved," said McMahan.

Following a motion by Norman Smith and second by Love Henderson, the measure passed committee and was then unanimously approved by the CLB.

In the monthly reports, Partnership President Don Hurst said the county continues to monitor the progress on cleaning up the Interstate 40 rockslide in North Carolina. Hurst also reported the recent Legislative Breakfast was a huge success and will become an annual event.

Newport Animal Shelter Director Carol Hood said the shelter's save rate was 79 percent last month and added the shelter is set to break a record this month on animals sent to rescue groups. She said a van provided by Friends of the Animal Shelter has helped the effort.

Hood also said the recent Big Fix resulted in 241 animals being spayed and neutered. She said Big Fix efforts through the years have prevented an estimated 5,000 animals that could be roaming the county or in the shelter. Another Big Fix is being planned for June.

County Attorney Fletcher Ervin said efforts to negotiate a settlement on the Flura property at Rock Hill has not progressed. Ervin said he has filed an appeal on a ruling by Judge Rex Henry Ogle, stating the county should sell the property to Marcus Mooneyhan for his bid of $5,000.

Allied EMS reported making 393 calls in February.

In other business, the CLB:

• Approved a resolution to apply for an extension of the Point Pleasant Waterline.

• Approved the appointments of Beth Freeman, Gray Sparks Jr., George Ailshie and Gay Webb to the Equalization Board.

• Approved the reappraisal plan for 2015.