The volunteer work of one of the county’s recreational outlets was front and center at Thursday’s Lawrence County Commission meeting.

Grayson Thornton of the Symmes Creek Restoration Committee gave the commissioners an update on the work to clean the 30-mile creek of debris and logjams to offer water aficionados a place to indulge in their sport.

“We can’t do anything without partners,” Thornton said. “You are one of our biggest. The Tribune is another.”

Right now there are four put-in and take-out sites along the stretch of the creek from Getaway to where it meets the Ohio River at Chesapeake.

A fifth site is planned at Getaway along the canoe trail named for Arthur S. Ferguson Jr., founder of the restoration committee and a former managing editor of The Tribune.

“We need dollars to develop it,” Thornton said.

Right now, Dr. Bill Dingus of the Lawrence Economic Development Corp., is trying to find grant money to help fund creating the site, that should cost about $2,000.

Recently the committee, along with the LEDC and the Workforce Development Resource Center in Ironton, clean up 20 log jams blocking navigation through the creek from Linnville to Getaway.

Commissioners commended the work of the committee.

“Symmes Creek is one of the best natural assets we have in Lawrence County,” Commissioner Jason Stephens said. “There are a lot of positive things going on in the county. We continue to make improvements and do the best we can. Symmes Creek is definitely making a contribution.”

In other business commissioners approved:

The Speedway SuperAmerica LLC proposal and contract for gas card services for the county’s Job and Family Services. Speedway, which is offering the county agency a four percent discount for the cards, was the only bid received.

The tie-down lease agreement for Brian Bradley at the Lawrence County Airpark.

The township-county co-op purchase agreement for Mason and Aid townships.