Issuing bonds to buy five new cruisers for the sheriff’s office and an ambulance for the county’s EMS was approved by the Lawrence County Commission at its Thursday regular meeting.

Bond anticipation notes in the amount of $146,000 for the cruisers and $120,000 for the ambulance will carry an interest rate of 2 percent for five years. They will then be purchased by the Lawrence County Treasurer’s Office.

Already an order has been sent to Statewide Fleet Management for the five Dodge cruisers that will be equipped with light bars and cages.

“We will have to put on the striping and install the radios,” Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless said. “We are definitely in dire need of these vehicles and are happy to receive them and get on the road.”

The ambulance to be at the Aid station has also been ordered.

“The ambulance is ready to be shipped,” EMS director Buddy Fry told the commissioners.

In other action, the commissioners:

• Approved vacating the following roads: Township Road 1370 in Union; Township Road 295 in Upper; Township Road 304 in Upper; Township Road 1460 in Upper; and County Road 20 in Elizabeth Township;

• Approved not vacating Township Road 1328 in Upper leaving it on non-maintained status;

• Declared October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month;

• Hired six EMTs and one paramedic on a part-time basis;

• Agreed to post a part-time custodian position for the county dog shelter.