OLBH assisting county with cleanups

Lawrence County Commission President Freddie Hayes Jr. announced that he has spoken to Sheriff Jeff Lawless about possibly getting a suicide hotline within the county at the commission meeting on Tuesday.

“I’m working with the sheriff right now on a suicide hotline since what happened to Bill (Pratt). We had one years ago, and I think it’s something that’s important” he said. “We’re going to talk to the ADAMHS (Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services) Board, but Sheriff Lawless said that it would come at a minimal cost.”

Commissioner DeAnna Holliday said that she wanted to recognize Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital for partnering with the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District and the county in litter control efforts.

“They have willingly come on board with the proper containers to properly dispose of needles or syringes that are found at these dumpsites,” she said.

Laura Brown, with the Lawrence County Humane Society, said that the group has a new humane agent, which Proctorville Police Chief Bill Murphy.

Murphy said that in the month of January, the humane society has received 29 calls, 25 reports, one dog was seized and three dogs were surrendered.

Murphy will be formally sworn into the position at the Ironton Fire Station on Friday. For more information on Murphy and the Lawrence County Humane Society, see the Weekend Edition of The Tribune.

In other action, the commission:

• Approved seven floodplain permit renewals.

• Received and filed the dog warden reports dated Jan. 5 and Jan. 12, 2019.

• Approved two appropriations.

• Approved two transfer funds.

• Reviewed and signed the 2018 annual reports for the Lawrence County Airpark, as requested by the FAA.

• Approved and signed the Construction Change Order 1-Final for CO13V County/Village Joint Resurfacing 2018, as requested by Lawrence County Engineer Patrick Leighty.

• Approved and signed the Construction Change Order 1-Final for CO14V County/Village Joint Resurfacing 2018, as requested by Lawrence County Engineer Patrick Leighty.

• Met in executive session with Lawrence County Chief Deputy Auditor Chris Kline and Rich Blankenship, assistant director of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services, regarding legal contracts. No action was taken.

The commission meeting took place at the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce due to the ongoing renovations at the courthouse. The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at the chamber of commerce.