The Dawson-Bryant High School History Club is currently raising money for a statue outside of the school, and history teacher Derek Parsons was at Thursday’s commission meeting to talk about the project.
The statue is of a “Student Soldier,” which depicts a graduating senior male who has chosen to go into the military and shows the student holding an American flag over his heart, a yearbook in his hand and wearing a pair of combat boots with his graduation gown.
The base of the statue will be an earthen mound and will include helmets styled to fit the time period for each war the U.S. has been involved in. Granite bases will also flank the statue with each base containing a bronze plaque explaining the mission of the statue and the story of Dawson-Bryant.
The statue will be located in front of the library windows at the center of the school building complex.
Parsons said Alan Cottrill, of Zanesville, is the artist who designed and will build the statue, which will stand eight or nine feet tall altogether. Cotrill has completed many bronze works, including the Woody Hayes and Jesse Owens statues at Ohio State University, and is currently working on a Brutus statue for the university as well. His Thomas Edison statue is also set to be displayed in Washing D.C.
Parsons said that the total cost of the project was around $55,000, with the school board paying half of the cost, or roughly $27,000. However, there is no timetable for completion, so whenever enough money is raised, the project will start. Production will begin after a fourth of the cost is raised.
All donations are welcomed, but donations of established levels will be recognized at the unveiling ceremony. The levels include red for $50 donations, black for $100 donations, white for $250 donations and gold for $500 donations. Parsons said about $6,000 has already been raised.
The commissioners agreed to become a gold sponsor for the project and donate $500 this year, and said they would possibly donate in years to come, until enough money is raised.
Anyone wishing to donate should send their donations to Dawson-Bryant High School c/o Dean Mader or Derek Parsons, No. 1 Hornet Lane, Coal Grove, Ohio 45638. Checks should be made payable to Dawson-Bryant Local School District. A receipt of the donation will be sent once received.
Also at commission, the commissioners:
• Approved and signed the weekly invoices and certificates as presented by the auditor’s office.
• Renewed one floodplain permit.
• Received and filed the dog warden report, dated Sept. 3 and Sept. 10, 2016. No dogs were euthanized, 30 were adopted, three were redeemed and 45 remain.
• Approved 16 transfer funds.
•  Approved two appropriate funds.
• Received and filed the EMS monthly report for September 2016.
• Approved and signed the extension for the SMART Ohio Pilot Grant Agreement Addendum Community Based Corrections Program. The grant is worth $279,000.
• Accepted the resignation of Julie Crawford, income maintenance worker 3 with the Department of Jobs and Family Services, effective Sept. 15, 2016.
• Accepted the resignation of Steven Harrison, employee of LCEMS, effective Oct. 1, 2016.
• Terminated the employment of probationary Paramedic Logal McCallister, effective Oct. 6, 2016, for failure to complete new employee orientation.
• Approved and Commission President Les Boggs signed the last grant submitted for the Allocation Program, requested by Cindy Anderson, community development director.
• Approved the corrected Lawrence County Rate Renewal Acceptance 2017 for CEBCO.
• Authorized the Lawrence County Engineer to prepare and submit application to participate in the 2017 County and Township Joint Resurfacing Projects.
• Approved and signed the Preliminary Resolution of intent to vacate Township Road 236N in Aid Township, pending a hearing and to be referred to the county engineer. The road viewing is at 11 a.m. Oct. 13 and the public hearing will be Oct. 20 prior to the commission meeting.
• Received and approved/studied the request of Aqua to take down and remove the Burlington Tank by entering onto county property. Once removed, the property will be returned to Lawrence County.
• Approved and signed the General Obligation Note for vehicle purchases for the Dog Shelter, for $32,000, the Sheriff’s cruisers, for $235,641, and 911 equipment, for $67,284.
• Approved CDBG grant for demolition, for $45,000, parks and recreation, for $32,000, Proctorville fire hydrant replacement, for $50,000, façade improvement program, for $25,000, and admin/fair housing/planning, for $38,000.
• Motioned to approve Oct. 6, 2016, as Manufacturing Day in Lawrence County.