IRONTON — On Tuesday the Lawrence County Commissioners will start the process of choosing an interim, if not permanent, director for the department of job and family services.

Current director Gene Myers, who will retire on May 1, told commission his last day on the job will be Wednesday.

So far 11 have sent in resumes for the job.

Tuesday was scheduled for the commission’s regular work session, but with Myers leaving the next day, commissioner Bill Pratt made a motion that the regular session be held earlier so at least an interim director could be named.

County treasurer Stephen Burcham reported that use of the online payment process for first half taxes has increased by 63 percent from $276,000 in 2015 to $450,000 last year. First half for this year came in at $19.7 million compared to $17 million paid in 2014.

“We are in the process of changing the (online) process slightly,” Burcham said.

This time if a taxpayer owned multiple parcels, he would have to go into the program separately for each one.

“We are moving to a shopping cart checkout,” Burcham said. “With multiple parcels, you go into the system at one time.”

Besides online, mail or in-person payment, property owners could also pay at 12 bank locations. The most used branch was US Bank of Proctorville bringing in $213,000, followed by US Bank of South Point and City Bank of Proctorville.

In other action the commission:

Re-appointed Ron McClintock to the planning commission for three years;

Terminated employment of Russell Long, EMS paramedic, for failure to complete for probationary period;

Met in executive session with Ironton attorney Scott Evans over contract negotiations for Union-Rome Sewer District.

— By Benita Heath