Making it easier for developers to transform the former Dayton Malleable site into a marketable property is the goal behind getting an Urban Setting Designation for it.

At its Thursday meeting Lawrence County Commissioners received notice from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that comments are now sought to get the USD for the ground water at that acreage. The request was made by SRW Environmental Services Inc., for the city of Ironton.

“The water around the old Malleable site, that’s 24 some acres, you can apply for an Urban Setting Designation that with any use of the (ground) water on the property, there will be no bathing, cooking or drinking,” Commission President Les Boggs said. “This makes it easier to develop and market. They don’t have water contaminants to clean up.”

Written comments will be accepted in care of Kevin O’Hara, Ohio EPA Southeast District Office, 2195 Front St., Logan, OH 43138 or at kevin.ohara@epa.state.oh.us.

Comments will be accepted through Sept. 17.

The commission also approved a new sidebar agreement between the county and the dog pound employees to show a new mindset at the shelter.

The old agreement stated that the county would pay the dog warden $3 for every animal that he euthanized. Now the agreement states Click will receive $7,500 for the adoption of dogs, which is the same sum as the old contract.

Past commissions paid Click the per-animal fee to compensate him for the chemicals used and license renewal fees.

“It is an unfortunate situation that stray dogs have to be picked up,” Boggs said. “Nobody likes the idea of (having to euthanize animals). Nobody likes to see it. This commission takes a different approach. We don’t want to see it worded ‘for euthanizing.’ We want to help promote the adoption of dogs.”

In the past year efforts by the county and animal lovers have increased the number of adoptions at the pound. From October 2010 to August 2011, there were 211 dogs adopted. However from October 2011 to August 2012 that number increased to 344 dogs adopted.

“Nobody wants a stray dog to starve to death,” Boggs said. “We hope in some way to promote the adoption of dogs to occur.”

In other action the commission:

• Established a cruiser capital repair fund for the sheriff’s office;

• Agreed to a request for the release of $349,362 for the Ironton Metropolitan Housing Authority that will go toward replacing kitchen cabinets in the low-income housing units;

• Heard a request by Commissioner Freddie Hayes for a speed limit study on County Road 44 North.