Monroe County commissioners approved an ordinance on March 13 to create a county donation fund to support the Sofia Travis Community Service Grant Program.

County legal staff said the ordinance (Ordinance 20-25-09) would add section 2-70-81 to the Monroe County Code to create a separate, nonreverting Monroe County Council donation fund. The county requested immediate approval so the Community Foundation that holds donations in honor of Cheryl Munson can transfer funds to the county, staff said.

The ordinance specifies that the fund will be kept separate from other county funds and used specifically to support the Sofia Travis Community Service Grant Program. According to staff, the program identifies about eight target areas that the fund may support, including needs such as food and public safety; a separate Sofia Travis committee reviews applications and makes recommendations on allocations.

A commissioner who spoke during the session said the ordinance had been narrowed from a previously broader purpose to explicitly support the Sofia Travis program, and several commissioners praised the measure as a way to remember Cheryl Munson’s work on the program.

Presiding officials moved and seconded the ordinance. There was no public comment. The board voted “aye” and recorded a 3-0 vote to approve the ordinance; the item will return for ratification at the commissioners’ March 27 meeting.

Clarifying details from the presentation note the fund is nonreverting, separate from other county funds, intended only for the Sofia Travis Community Service Grant Program, and that the Community Foundation currently holds donations in honor of Cheryl Munson and seeks to transfer them to the county fund for distribution.