Part of Senior Citizens Day activities

ROME TOWNSHIP — The Lawrence County Commissioners conducted their weekly meeting at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds on Tuesday as part of the Senior Citizens Day event that was taking place.

As part of the meeting, Commission President Bill Pratt presented Darlene Green, the director of the Sybene-Chesapeake Senior Center, with a certificate signed by all of the commissioners recognizing her for all of the work she does at the senior center and putting the Senior Citizens Day event on each year.

Commissioners DeAnna Holliday and Freddie Hayes Jr., as well as Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard, Lawrence County Municipal Court Judge Donald Capper and Lawrence County Clerk of Courts Mike Patterson also recognized Green for all of her efforts.

Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless asked commission for approval to properly dispose of old computer monitors, keyboards and other electronics that are currently being stored in a storage house. The commissioners approved the action.

Laura Brown, president of the Lawrence County Humane Society, also addressed the meeting to talk about people potentially becoming a part of the humane society. The cost to join is $5 a year, and its next meeting is 7 p.m. Monday at the Ironton Senior Center.

Regarding Lawrence County EMS, Pratt said EMS Director Buddy Fry is going to retire in October of this year, and anyone interested in that position should submit an application to commission sometime within the next six weeks.

During audience participation, Linda Chapman talked about a Lawrence County AARP group that meets at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the South Point First Southern Baptist Church. She said the cost of joining the group is $3 a year with dues, and that it is mostly about fellowship.

Calvin Vinson, chairman of the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church project, addressed commission about the need to rebuild the historic structure, which was built sometime between 1811 and 1813. He handed out a letter outlining its historical significance and the importance of rebuilding the church.

Debra Lear, of the Sybene Missinary Baptist Church, also talked about the church’s senior choir the church has who meets from 10:30-11:30 a.m. every Thursday. She said the choir goes to different places to perform and said anyone who was interested in joining is welcome.

During the commissioners’ reports, Holliday talked about the drug epidemic that is currently hitting our county, and recognized Ballard and Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson, who recently conducted a town hall on the issue and plan on more in the future. She also addressed the importance of spending money in Lawrence County, rather than going to Ashland or Huntington, because the county’s largest revenue source comes from sales tax.

In other action, the commissioners:

• Received and filed the Dog Warden Report dated May 6, 2017.

• Approved two floodplain permits.

• Approved 16 transfer funds.

• Approved two appropriations.

• Received and filed the correspondence from the Engineer’s office regarding Private Drive 5087. The private drive does not meet the qualifications for the township.

• Approved and signed the Lawrence County Airport Tie Down Lease Agreement for Nelson Whitt, T Hanger #4, requested my Mark Christian.

• Approved and signed the Resolution of Support for the U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA).

• Approved and signed the Resolution of Support for the Ohio Development Services Agency (OSDA) Appalachian Assistance Fund Line Item (State Biennium Budget continue funding).

• Approved and signed the Resolution of Support for the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).

• Received and filed the correspondence from Kinder’s Insurance for the first quarter liability claims for Lawrence County.

• Received and filed the summons for Harry Rader vs. Lawrence County Ohio, case number 17P1000341.

• Received and filed the vacancy report from Gary Criswell, URS Administrator.