Commissioners throw support to wellness initiative

It’s a ranking no one wanted to hear. According to a recent study conducted for the state, Lawrence is the unhealthiest county in Ohio.

That’s why Ohio University Southern professor Dave Lucas wants to start a health and wellness initiative with one goal in mind — climbing up the ladder to better health and a better rating for the county.

Factors used in the survey included obesity, teen birth rate, low birth rate, number of children in poverty, number of preventable hospital stays, excessive drinking and adult smoking.

“The county has the highest rate of tobacco use per capita than any place in the nation,” Lucas told the county commissioners at their Thursday meeting. “That is staggering. And the people in Lawrence County get no activity, no exercise.”

Lucas sought and received support from the commissioners for his initiative that would partner with agencies and businesses to promote the need for wellness, offer information about existing programs and develop avenues for exercise. Lucas did not request any funding from the commissioners.

“We would hold a summit and then we will determine our goals,” Lucas said. “We are dead last in the state and dead last in health. I think partnerships are essential. It is our responsibility to look to ourselves to lift us up by our bootstraps.”

Commissioners Bill Pratt and Les Boggs voiced support for Lucas’ proposal. Commissioner Paul Herrell was absent.

“I have always believed one person can make a difference,” Boggs said. “We should give you the cooperation you need.”

Commissioners received an opinion from assistant prosecuting attorney Mack Anderson detailing the constraints the commission is under in establishing a public road. According to the Ohio Revised Code, a private drive can be designated a county or township road if it starts and ends on a public road, starts on a public road and services a public park, school or comparable public entity or has at least three private residences or businesses in the first 500 feet with one private residence or business every 200 feet for the rest of the drive.

County Engineer Doug Cade had sought the opinion because of the number of requests he has received from residents wanting the county to take over their roads.

“I’ve had 10 to 15 people on roads wanting to make them public,” Cade said.

However, most private roads do not meet the requirements for having houses in the first 500 feet, he said.

“My question was does the county have any flexibility, any discretion,” Cade said.

Commissioners also approved a lease-purchase agreement with Ford Motor Credit for two new cruisers and a four-wheel drive for the sheriff’s office. These will be added to the current fleet of 21 cruisers, two transport vehicles, a four-wheel drive and an SUV used to pull the office’s rescue boat. Those vehicles have high mileage and last year cost the sheriff’s office $60,000 in repairs, according to Sheriff Jeff Lawless.

“We are in dire need of five additional (vehicles),” Lawless said. “I understand the county doesn’t have that kind of money. We will keep what we have on the road. Our goal is to piece together our old stuff.”

In the terms of the four-year agreement the county will make an annual lease payment of $22,695.86 for a total principal of $83,250 with total interest payments of $7,533.44 and then own the vehicles.

In other business the commissioners:

• Accepted a quote from Advanced Building Restoration of $1,500 to repair the mortar joints in a section of the courthouse;

• Proclaimed Saturday as South Point Fire Chief Richard Stevens Day;

• Received notice from Time Warner Cable of the addition of Cool TV, a WCHS multicast, Country Network, a WVAH multicast and Lifetime HD stations;

• Approved $5,000 payment to the Lawrence County Fair;

• Transferred $17,624 from the county clerk’s title fee fund at the request of Clerk Mike Patterson to replace the roof on the 4-H barn at the fairgrounds. This money was a surplus in the fund that finances salaries and supplies for the title side of the clerk’s office.