Want to go to a Lawrence County Commission meeting without actually going to the meeting? No problem.

The commission gave a test run Thursday to a new video recording system that will, for now, allow people who want to view commission meetings but can’t actually attend the meetings to pick up a DVD.

In the future, the commissioners hope to air their meetings on the Internet.

The Sire Technologies system will, once it is fully operational, allow people to access the commission’s agenda via an Internet Web site and then watch the meeting. If a person has an interest in one specific segment of the meeting, they can click on that segment of the agenda and fast forward the recording to the corresponding segment of the meeting.

The system itself cost $9,900, Chris Kline, Lawrence County chief deputy auditor, said. The software cost just under $10,000.

“We’re looking forward to the access this will provide people who may not be able to come to the meetings,” Commission President Jason Stephens said.

“I think this does help with transparency,” Commissioner Les Boggs agreed.

In other matters, the three-member board appointed Commissioner Doug Malone to serve as caucus chair for the Ohio Valley Regional Development Corporation.

Stephens said he attended a Lion’s Club meeting Tuesday evening and learned about a new state program that allows families of soldiers killed in military action to purchase special Gold Star Family license plates.

The commission agreed to send a letter to area veteran’s organizations, advising them of the new program.