Debbie Fisher spoke before the Lawrence County Commissioners on Tuesday morning about Public Health Week.

She thanked them for a proclamation making April 1-7 Public Health Week in Lawrence County.

“Public Health Week is a way to acknowledge public health (agencies) for the role they have in helping prevent diseases, promoting healthy lifestyles and protecting the health of our county,” she said, adding the Lawrence County Health Department has a lot of programs to do just that. 

She said they had done a lot of work during the COVID-19 pandemic and they still were done with that and that they have been fifth in Ohio for new cases.

“We work on that while we do all our other things,” Fisher said. “We are one of the least healthy counties in our state and we are working so hard to change that.”

In items on the agenda, the commissioners took the following actions:

•  Approve the following floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District:

– New: Phillip Ellis-Stream maintenance project located at 619 Township Road 212S; Danny Holschuh, Filling and grading project located at 2131 County Road 9, Josh and Christy Porter, filling and grading, bridge/culvert and residential structure projects located at 12597 State Route 217; Eric Denney, filling and grading project located at 3832 County Road 210; Jody Cremeans-Stream maintenance project located at 9171 County Road 4.

– Renewals: Lawrence Township-Grading, culvert and ditch maintenance projects located on Township Road R.O.W.; and Joseph Ketcham-Stream maintenance project located at 7728 County Road 37.

• Approved the appropriations and transfers dated March 26, 2024, under $50,000, submitted by Dylan Bentley, acting administrator.

• Approved the appropriation dated March 26, 2024, over $50,000, submitted by Bentley.

• Received and filed the Certificate of County Auditor that the total appropriations from each fund do not exceed the official estimate of resources.

• Approved and signed the Fiscal Year 2024 Ohio Airport Improvement Program Matching Grants for General Aviation Airports, approved by the Lawrence County Prosecutor.

• Received and filed the EMS monthly report for February.

• Approved and signed the LCDJFS Title IV-D with Lawrence County Common Pleas Court for $122,533.80, beginning Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2024.

• Approved and signed the American Electric Power easement for replacement of an existing pole and adding an anchor for a parcel located in Coal Grove. 

• Approved the Storm Water Annual Report submitted by Kim Carrico, Urban Education specialist, Soil and Water.

• Received a petition to vacate abandoned Township Road 1292, located in Rome Township, requested by James and Jody Christian. It was referred to the Engineer’s Office. 

• Received and filed the Ohio Department of Natural Resources correspondence regarding Pine Creek Structure No. 8 Dam.

• Approved and signed the Land Bank memorandum of understanding between the Lawrence County Treasurer and General Truck Drivers and Helpers Union Local No 92.

• Approved the variance request-Interstate Exchange, LLC, requested by the Lawrence County Planning Commission and Ohio Department of Transportation for Route 32 for Chesapeake Bypass.

• Approved the accommodations for the Lawrence County Civic Scholars Program. 

• Proclaimed March 2024 as “Women’s History Month” in Lawrence County, Ohio.

• Tabled the ABM Contract and GSA Procurement until the financial estimates are in.

The commissioners meet on Tuesday mornings in their chambers in the Lawrence County Courthouse.