It’s the first step in a possible reconfiguration of the local ambulance service as Lawrence County Commissioners met Thursday afternoon with their counterparts in Gallia County.

Reaching out to neighboring counties to join the Southeast Emergency Medical Services district was touted as a possible option for the once financially beleaguered district by a contingency plan committee set up to offer plans for the future of ambulance service.

Recently two of the three members of SEOEMS — Athens and Jackson counties — publicly stated they wanted out of the district.

However, Jackson did say remaining with Lawrence County in the district was a possibility depending on the future economic landscape of the tri-county organization.

The meeting with Gallia was announced during Thursday’s meeting of the Lawrence Commissioners, although later Commissioner Jason Stephens said this was in no way an attempt to affect Gallia’s current ambulance service. Rather, it could meet the needs of the farthest western sections of Gallia that are contiguous to Lawrence.

The commissioners also approved a motion offered by Commissioner Les Boggs to advertise for a manager to reopen the second floor courthouse lunch counter.

Prospective candidates would have to pass a drug test.

In other business the commissioners:

• Approved participating in getting State Issue 1 funding for upgrades at the Rome-Union Sewer System.

• Re-appointed Jeff Eastham to the planning commission for a three-year term.

• Appointed Chesapeake Mayor Dick Gilpin to the Issue One Project Committee.

• Received the weekly dog warden’s report where 33 dogs were destroyed, seven sold and one redeemed.

• Approved an application for group insurance between the Lawrence County Employees and Lincoln National Life Insurance.