Commission OKs trailer to haul water

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 16, 2000

County leaders took steps Thursday to battle this summer’s impending drought.

Friday, June 16, 2000

County leaders took steps Thursday to battle this summer’s impending drought.

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Commissioners voted to buy a 16-foot trailer to haul Lawrence County Emergency Management Agency water tanks to townships in need of drinking water.

The action followed EMA recommendations to reconvene the Water Management Task Force formed in 1999 when lack of water plagued several western and northern townships.

Although National Weather Service data shows the county has received near normal rainfall, the county is still below normal for the past year, EMA deputy director Mike Boster said.

Several areas of the county remain affected by drought-like conditions and low quality wells, Boster said.

"The drought is here," he said, adding that experts predict continued dry conditions throughout summer.

"At this point, there is a need for a tank in Elizabeth Township," Boster said.

Trustee Ron Davis made that request to commissioners, stating that White Oak and Fox Hollow – the two areas in Elizabeth hardest hit by the 1999 drought – are in dire need again.

The EMA has four 425-gallon water tanks that will be loaned out to trustees, director Don Mootz said.

The new trailer will allow EMA staff to transport the tanks, he said.

Tanks will be distributed like they were last year – the EMA will approve requests and keep records, Mootz said.

The EMA is seeking a source of water for use in the tanks and for general distribution in case of severe drought, he said.

The county prosecutor will also draft legal documents detailing the use of the tanks.

Also Thursday, commissioners voted 3-2 to consolidate two county payroll positions. Commissioner George Patterson voted no.

Human resources coordinator Dick Lang will leave his administrative duties in the commission office, transferring to the EMA as a deputy director at his current commission salary.

Lang will assume the duties of 911 address coordinator. He replaces a county employee in the engineer’s office who resigned that position.

Lang also will take over duties of the county’s solid waste coordinator. Current coordinator David Sheets has announced his retirement, which becomes effective June 30.

Lang’s positions are effective today and will save the county about $30,000, commission president Bruce Trent said.

This is not a county trend to cut staff, Trent said.

"It’s just a way to consolidate duties, taking advantage of a resignation and retirement," he said.

In other action Thursday, commissioners:

– Increased county Department of Human Services director Buddy Martin’s salary to compensate for additional duties his office has undertaken.

Human services offices statewide are absorbing the oversight of Ohio Bureau of Employment branches and the local DHS is now directing the Child Support Enforcement Agency. DHS officials also expect to coordinate new state benefit programs and the new welfare program.

Commissioners surveyed salaries of other DHS directors across the state who were taking on the added duties, and chose to adjust Martin’s accordingly, Trent said.

Martin’s salary will become $85,000 per year plus benefits, retroactive to September 1999.

The difference in salaries will be paid from extra state and federal program monies now received by DHS, not from the county general fund, Patterson said.

– Heard from the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization about uses of the commission’s annual formula grant money.

Some money is already earmarked, commissioners said. There is more than $230,000 remaining – $80,000 could add another phase to the Burlington storm sewer project, with $50,000 for additional work on Proctorville water lines, $35,000 for a Perry Township fire truck, $28,000 for Rock Hill Little League and $40,000 for the county’s water and sewer tap program.

CAO community development director Ralph Kline, who gave the report, said the county needs final cost estimates and must hold a July 6 public hearing before final approval of the formula grant program.

– Accepted the resignation of Ray Bentley as the county’s prevailing wage and hour officer. Bentley will retain his county floodplain administrator’s position.