Will include EMS station, senior and community centers

ROME TOWNSHIP — The Lawrence County Fairgrounds will be receiving some new additions sometime in the near future, thanks to an agreement between the commission and the fair board.

This past Saturday, county commissioners Freddie Hayes Jr. and DeAnna Holliday announced the project, which would include a new EMS station for the eastern end of the county, as well as a senior center and community center on property on the east end of the fairgrounds, before the large animal auction began on the final day of this year’s fair.

“The commissioners have been working with the Lawrence County Port Authority and the Lawrence Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) for a building for an EMS station on the corner of the fairgrounds,” Lawrence County Fair Board President Randy Lambert said. “And if all of the funding is approved, it would also include a community center and a senior citizens center.”

Lambert said the board recently voted to accept a $300,000 offer from commission for the piece of property on the fairgrounds, which the board will in turn pay into its barn debt, leaving a balance of $210,000 on the barn.

“This will allow us to get the debt on the barn down, so the remainder of the pledges will pay it off,” Lambert said.

The senior center would replace the current Chesapeake-Sybene Senior Center, ran by director Darlene Green, currently in a modular unit next to the Chesapeake Community Center.

The community would utilize the community center for different functions, with all being available throughout the year, as well as during the county fair week each year.

No timetable was given for construction on the project to begin.

However, this agreement allows commission, the fair board and other involved entities to move forward with finalization.