The Callos Companies of Columbus has been accepted as the employer of record for the summer youth program conducted by the county’s department of job and family services.

The program, open to youth aged 16 through 24, is in its second year with the DJFS that sought an organization who would agree to handle payroll including workers’ compensation for those involved in the program.

This would allow larger corporations in the area to hire the young workers since there would be a clearinghouse to handle the administrative duties.

“We bid out for the employer of record and got one proposal,” Gene Myers, DJFS director told the county commission at its regular Thursday meeting.

Commission accepted Callos’ proposal at a rate of $16 a worker a month for the duration of the program that runs from June 1 to Oct. 31. That cost will come from the approximately $300,000 set aside for the program this season. Overall funding comes from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which is a state grant allocated from federal money.

Last year 110 young people were placed in the program. This summer Myers anticipates that number to run between 100 and 150 youth.

Also at the meeting commissioners approved the appropriation of $20,000 to pay the remainder of the fee of Chesapeake attorney Richard Meyers for representing the county in a recent eminent domain lawsuit concerning the Lawrence County Airpark.

Meyers has been on contract since 2006 and had previously received a total of $28,758.95 in three payments, according to the county auditor’s office.

In other action the commission:

• Donated $1,000 to the Collins Career Center fire house training program;

• Approved a contract with Pinkerman Excavating to demolish structures at 871 County Road 210, Waterloo, 22196 State Route 141, Pedro, 245 Township Road 1135, Proctorville, 519 Rockwood Ave., Chesapeake and 121 Patrick St., Coal Grove;

• Approved replacing the security system at the courthouse for $12,093;

• Receiving the weekly dog warden report where no dogs were destroyed, 52 were adopted or went to rescue and one was redeemed by its owner;

• Approved appropriating a county match of $5,276.06 to a $15,825 state grant for the marine patrol assistance program.