County leaders are urging state legislators to boost funding to two local conservation programs facing budget concerns in Columbus.

Friday, April 13, 2001

County leaders are urging state legislators to boost funding to two local conservation programs facing budget concerns in Columbus.

The Ohio Valley Resource Conservation and Development asked Lawrence County commissioners Thursday to write state representatives and senators to encourage continued funding of the program, which provides resource development services in a 10-county region in southern Ohio.

The RC&D program is in jeopardy of being cut from the state budget the next two years, which accounts for about $27,777 spending in its area, program president Doug Cade wrote in a letter.

The Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District also faces the same budget crisis because state funding is being reduced, commissioner George Patterson said.

Instead of a dollar for dollar match in funding for Soil and Water, they will only get 85 cents per dollar, he said.

For both programs, the commission approved letters of support that ask state legislators to consider more funding.

Also Thursday, commissioners decided to study a proposal that would let the Proctorville VFW use leftover floodplain land.

The county, under a federal program, will have land in the floodplain that can be used for parks and other spaces.

"I also believe, if presented right and if the VFW followed floodplain regulations, they (federal officials) would probably grant an exception," Patterson said.

The commission approved directing Les York to study the idea with the VFW.

Also Thursday, commissioners:

– Signed the Ironton-Lawrence County CAO’s application for Community Housing Improvement Program funding.

– Approved a resolution placing more than $6,500 in state cleanup costs for an Athalia tire pile on the property owner’s tax bill.

– Received a request from the Village of Proctorville asking for $20,550 in assistance from the County CDBG Formula grant program. The funds will be used in the local share of an elevated water storage tank replacement project.

– Approved a request from Sheriff Tim Sexton to sign off on a proposal to the Ohio Department of Youth Services for the purpose of offender observation.

The proposal does not require county funds and could result in some state funding to the sheriff’s department, Sexton wrote in a letter.

Closer scrutiny of any parolee can only provide for safer communities, he wrote.