Will run commission Facebook page

CHESAPEAKE — In an effort to better reach out to the community, the Lawrence County commissioners hired Dave Lucas, of Dave Lucas Communications, to be the administrator of a Lawrence County Commission Facebook page at their meeting Tuesday evening at the Chesapeake Giovanni’s.

The move comes after a few weeks of discussions about the contract with Lucas.

“I’m probably the guilty party when it comes to this,” Commissioner DeAnna Holliday said. “But I’ve pushed for a more transparent government. We’re working really hard to get out into the public with our meetings, and I think this is another way to keep moving in that direction.”

The Facebook page will be that of the county commission, with Lucas just being brought on as the administrator.

The goal of the action is to provide one voice from the commissioners’ office out to the public, and reduce the misinformation that may be out there about what’s actually going on.

“We want to be a commission that’s proactive, not reactive,” Holliday said. “And this is something to help us achieve that.”

Although the page will be used to get information out to the public on a number of topics, one of the main goals is to push the message of sales tax, which makes up the majority of the county’s budget when money is spent inside Lawrence County.

“We’re not asking people to spend more money,” Commissioner Bill Pratt said. “It’s about making them aware of where they’re spending their money. I think if people get this in their heads, they might be more conscious of spending money here in the county than elsewhere.”

Lucas will work directly for the commissioners with the commission reviewing everything before being posted to the page. Other county offices and departments may also be able to use the page, but everything is at the discretion of county commission.

Lucas made it clear that this will only be an avenue to get truthful information out to the public, and that it would not at all be or turn political.

A 30-day escape clause is included in the contract for both parties in the event that it does not work how commission initially thought. Commission or Lucas would have to give a 30-day notice in writing if they wished to get out of the contract.

The contract also includes a $2,500 set up fee, which is to be paid within the first week of signing the contract, as well as $3,000 paid to Dave Lucas Communications for each of three quarters throughout the year in April, July and October.

If either party wishes to end the contract within the first 30 days, Dave Lucas Communications agrees to repay the county the $2,500 set up fee, as well as $85 a day for each day of services worked during the initial period.

Everything created for the page would also be the property of the commissioners and the county, not Dave Lucas Communications, if the contract is terminated.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham also gave a report, and said that tax collections are up this year from last year with $10.9 million collected through Feb. 17 this year compared to $8.3 million collected during the same time period last year. Just in February, tax collections are $81,000 higher this year than last year, and as a whole, up $95,000 for the year.

At the conclusion of next week’s commission meeting, the commissioners will interview candidates for the assistant director of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services.

Also at commission:

• Approved and signed the weekly invoices and certificates as presented by the Auditor’s office.

• Received and filed the Dog Warden Report dated Feb. 11, 2017.

• Approved two transfer funds.

• Approved the Project-Specific Release of Environmental Conditions for B-F-16-1BN-1 in the amount of $32,000 (Parks and Recreation) as requested by Cindy Anderson, CAO.

• Signed the Acknowledge of Receipt for FEMA National Flood Insurance Program as requested by Gary Criswell, URS Administrator.

• Received and filed the correspondence regarding the cost proposals for the proposed County Jail at the ORV.

• Received and filed the Cost Allocation provided by Maximus for the 2017 calendar year, and to ask the County Auditor to take appropriate steps to collect from those departments who are under supervision of the County Commissioners, and to notify all other departments/offices of the Cost Allocation plan details.

• Approved and signed the McCown and Fisher LPA Contract for legal services to be provided to the LCDJFS CSEA from Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2017, and to approve Jenna J. Waldo LPA contact for legal services to be provided to LCDJFS from Jan. 1, 2017 through Dec. 31, 2017, as a second alternative in the event that there is a conflict of interest with McCown and Fisher.

• Approved the employment of Adam Myers as Maintenance 2 and Davie Hill as Custodian, effective Feb. 22, 2017.