Commissioners split on vote for grant: Motion to apply for funds to renovate former Danbury daycare facility fails

(By Leslie Bray Evans, The Stokes News) - The Stokes County Board of Commissioners met for over four hours on Monday night. One of the pressing issues that resulted in much discussion was the request for authorization to apply for a grant for the now vacant daycare center in Danbury.

The board split on the vote to authorize the application for a grant that could be utilized to renovate the Danbury facility formerly used as a daycare. With board members Dr. Ron Carroll, Stanley Smith and Chairman Jimmy Walker voting no, the motion failed. Commissioner Leon Inman and Vice Chair Ernest Lankford voted in favor of applying for the grant.

The item was on the discussion agenda before being moved to action. Lankford introduced the topic, stressing the large financial impact of the daycare business on the economy of Stokes County. He noted that there are only 20 licensed/regulated daycare centers in the entire county and that many of these are run with the aid of grant money.