The Fayette

County Commission could make a final decision Thursday to bring three

more deputies to the county.

The commission

has delayed a decision for nearly a month on a grant that would pay the

majority of costs for the three new deputies.

The Governor's

Office of Highway Safety is offering about $300,000 over the grant period

of April 2002 through Sept. 30, 2003, with a requirement that the county

chip in about $90,000, said Maj. Wayne Hannah of the sheriff's Traffic

Enforcement Division.

After 2003,

the county would have to pick up the cost to continue to program, unless

the state decides in the meantime to re-fund the grants.

Hannah said

the officers would focus on driving under the influence as well as aggressive

driving such as following too close, failure to yield right of way and

improper passing.

Three salaries,

cars and equipment would be provided for under the grant, he added.

After reading

through the proposal, Commission Chairman Greg Dunn asked county attorney

Bill McNally to read through the proposal.

Dunn is wary

of some of the language in the grant documents that he believes could

force Fayette to cough up more money for the program if the deputies don't

solely concentrate on DUIs and aggressive driving.

The board will

also discuss several items on the consent agenda, including:

Approval of

request from Heaven Bound Pentecostal Fellowship Church to use Heritage

Park for their 2002 Outreach Gospel Fest on May 11 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Approval of

recommendation from Director of Purchasing Tim Jones that Shell Energy

be awarded the bid for the county government's natural gas provider at

the price of $.499 plus the interstate transportation charge for the period

of April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2003.

Approval of

Elections Officer Carolyn Combs' recommendation to award bid for printing

of election ballots for the year 2002 to low bidder Hart Intercivic in

the amount of $40,140.

The meeting

starts at 7 p.m.