COMMISSIONERS GIVE APPROVAL TO JOIN PROPOSED METH TASK FORCE

The Ashe County Board of Commissioners gave their nod of approval to
Sheriff Jim Hartley and showed their support of a multi-agency task force
to concentrate on the methamphetamine problems in northwestern North Carolina.

Hartley talked about the current methamphetamine problem in the county and
the importance of this new task force. He explained that it is important
that the counties band together to show the strength of their law
enforcement departments so that people who make and use methamphetamine
labs will go to other areas. "We don't want them here and we can't afford
them. If we don't show any initiative, then they will come here," he noted.

The Ashe, Wilkes and Forsyth County Sheriff's Departments are planning to
join together with the State Bureau of Investigation to work together to
take down methamphetamine labs in each of these counties. A federal partner
such as the DEA or US Marshall is also needed to be involved.

A $250,000 grant application will require a $62,500 match. The sheriff's
departments in the four participating counties will be required to come up
with $15,625. Hartley said he could fund half of the money needed from Ashe
County and the commissioners voted to fund the remaining half of the money
if the grant is funded. The grant application is to be completed and signed
by Jan. 30th.

The purpose of this project is to secure office space that will be donated
by Watauga County that is not in a law enforcement building. A
secretary/intelligence analyst will equip the office and collect
intelligence information from the four counties that will be forwarded to
the SBI Intelligence Section. Intelligence will also be gathered via an 800
number methamphetamine tip line.

Intelligence information will be shared with the appropriate department
with jurisdiction and that department will then investigate the tip using
the surveillance equipment and overtime funding allocated to that
department. Officers in these four counties will also receive law
enforcement raining and equipment to assist the SBI agents in taking down
methamphetamine labs in their counties.

The agencies are applying for a grant to fund the project. During the first
year, information will be collected on methamphetamine cookers in
northwestern NC and leads will be followed through on as many of these
leads as possible. A task force will be established by the second year and
intelligence collection will continue as well as the increase of law
enforcement's ability to target the methamphetamine problems.

The grant application is to be completed and signed by Jan. 30th. The
commissioners agreed unanimously at Monday's meeting to fund half of the
$15,625 required from each participating county and the sheriff's
department will fund the remaining half if the grant is approved.