After eight years of exemplary service, the employees of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services received some recognition at Thursday’s meeting of the Lawrence County Commission.

Several employees of the department were on hand to accept an award from the state of Ohio in honor of the agency’s food stamp accuracy rating.

The TEER (or Top Error Element Review) relates to food stamps, and how accurately they’ve been distributed in a certain area. Federal standards are that states must have 94 percent accuracy, but the Lawrence County office scored an admirable 96.24 percent.

Buddy Martin, director of the Lawrence County DJFS, said that kind of accuracy is no easy task.

“One of the reasons that’s so difficult to obtain is that if a client gives you misinformation, that’s an error against the agency, not the client,” Martin said.

Members of the Lawrence County Commission were quick to congratulate the employees of the DJFS for their work.

“We just want to express our appreciation for the work you all do,” Commission Chairman George Patterson said. “Maybe you think at times that we don’t realize or recognize or appreciate the things that you all do, but that’s not the case. We thoroughly trust Buddy, I’ve worked with him for 20 years. Commissioners have to depend on people like Buddy and the people that work with him.”

Despite the praise, Martin didn’t take credit for the success, saying that there were several factors that went into it.

“We’ve done a lot of training over the years, it’s just a combination of things, like the staff being dedicated to doing a better job,” Martin said. “I’m just proud of the work that they do.”

Earlier this month, the DJFS began its “Clothes for Kids” program. Employees of the department agreed to take federal incentives money and use it for children.

The program will provide needy Lawrence County families with $250 per child, or a maximum of $500 per family.

Also during the meeting, the commission voted to approve and sign the ODJFS contracts with the Lawrence County Sheriff and the City of Ironton.