At Thursday’s Lawrence County Commission meeting, Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham announced that second half tax collections are due today.

He said last year for the same time period, $6.574 million was collected compared to $8.155 collected already for the second half this year.

Total second half tax collections last year totaled $12.3 million, with that number expected to increase to about $13 million for the total second half collections this year after today.

He added that the majority of the money is used to fund the county’s school systems to help educate the children.

Lawrence County Auditor Jason Stephens spoke about a new financial software the county just went live with last week, that will help improve efficiency in every county office going forward. The program gives 24/7 access to real-time financial information, and greatly improves the speed of processing payroll.

Stephens also informed commission that his office has officially sealed the scales that weigh the animals at the county fair.

Commission President Bill Pratt recognized Dan Lester, who died a few months ago, for all of his work and dedication to the county.

Lester served as a Lions Club member and avid volunteer, Lions Club president, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce member and president for some time, Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation Trustee, Board of Advisors for Operation Evangelize Ministries, Tri-State Alumni Association and Leadership Development Program, Governor Taft’s Small Business Counsel, representing Lawrence County for seven years, Regional Vice President’s Club Member, Chairman of Board of Elders, Deacon and Sunday School teacher, superintendent, 36-year member of the South Point Christian Church, Marshall University Big Green member and supporter of the Big Green Scholarship Fund, Little League team sponsor for Chesapeake, Fairland, Symmes Valley and South Point, supporter of Lawrence County 4-H and its livestock sale, videographer for community events, Kentucky Colonel, owner and operator of State Farm Insurance in Chesapeake for 40 years and relator with Stillpass Realty for three years.

Pratt said that commission was going to look into naming a county bridge after Lester sometime in the near future.

During the commissioner’s reports, Pratt said that he believed Lawrence County EMS had the number of signatures needed for a tax levy on the November ballot with around 1,700 signatures and counting.

Commissioner Freddie Hayes Jr. said the first county officeholder meeting last week went very well, and said the next one will be noon Tuesday at the Lawrence County Fair before the regular scheduled commission meeting.

Prior to the meeting, the commissioners met with Columbus-based attorney Jonathan Downes about creating a personnel manual and job descriptions for county employees, which will take effect in about six months.

In other action, commission:

• Approved 12 transfer funds.

• Approved one appropriation.

• Approved and signed the Subgrant Award Agreement for the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.

• Authorized Lawrence County Engineer Patrick Leighty to sign the Project Grant Agreements (OPWC) for CO14U Lawrence County/Township Joint Resurfacing Project and DOU06 Lawrence County Resurfacing Project.

• Received and filed the bid recommendation for County Road 5-0.17 Landslide Repair (PID 102206) to Solid Rock Construction Services LLC in the amount of $261,274.42, requested by county engineer Patrick Leighty.

• Approved and signed the Award Resolution County Road 5-0.17 Landslide Repair Project to Solid Rock Construction Services LLC.

The next Lawrence County Commission meeting is set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds during the fair.