By Terry L. Hapney, Jr.
The Ironton Tribune

Assisting farmers and tourism were highlights of the Sept. 3 meeting of the Lawrence County Commissioners.
With Commission president Colton Copley absent due to “an unexpected obligation,” according to vice president DeAnna Holliday, Commissioner Mike Finley shared that the commissioners visited Soil and Water last week to help local farmers, giving them the ability to buy a new no-tilt drill.
“The local farmer needs help,” Finley said. “We’re here to help any local business we can. Hopefully, this will help the small farmers.”
Finley said many small farms are rented out to deer hunters coming to the county and farmers want to plant corn for them.
“That’s a great idea,” Finley said. “Tourism is what we’re focusing on.”
Holliday said the commissioners have discussed marketing the white-tail hunt in Lawrence County. Finley said the county is seeing “some deer that book in the 200s.”
“That’s phenomenal,” he said.
Many of the surrounding counties, Holliday said, capitalize on that. She said it creates an opportunity to bring hunters in from out of town but is also beneficial to people who have real estate.
“The cabin rentals…Hopefully, while they’re here they enjoy everything else that Lawrence County has to offer,” Holliday said.
Finley said he has seen a couple of local restaurants featured on hunting shows on television.
“One of them was Melini’s,” he said. “I didn’t know (the show was) in town. They were hunting whitetail in Lawrence County.”
Wanting to promote any type of tourism, Finley said work is underway “to get side-by-sides.”
“I think Rick Jensen’s working on a jeep jamboree,” he said. “That would be great to bring tourism.”
“We have so many things that have gone unidentified for so long,” Holliday said. “We enjoy them here locally, but it’s time now that we start sharing. I call it the best kept secret.”
Finley said Dylan Bentley of the commissioners’ office has worked to get signs for boat and canoe launches, in addition to kayaking.
Holliday said she appreciates all the work Finley is doing with Soil and Water, including focusing on farmers and what they need.
“At one time, Lawrence County had such a strong agricultural footprint,” she said. “It is something that has dwindled through the decades. If we can do anything to rekindle that spirit of farmer and put a lot of these farms and this land back to agricultural use, I always want to support that.”
Holliday cited the importance of investing in farmers and how expensive farming is.
“If we can provide a piece of equipment or a tool—anything that offsets the cost of farming—I always want to support that,” she said.
Finley and Holliday mentioned the farmer’s market in Ironton and another in Chesapeake. Finley encouraged everyone to enjoy the homegrown items.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Approved the minutes from the Aug. 27 meeting.
• Approved floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District.
• Approved appropriations and transfers dated Sept. 3 under $50,000.
• Tabled consideration to receive and file the Criminal Disposition annual report beginning July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024, for the Lawrence County Common Pleas Court, Lawrence County Municipal Court and Ironton Municipal Court—submitted by the Prosecutor’s Office.
• Authorized Bentley, acting administrator, the ability to sign all documents related to the Cyber Ohio local government grant.
Meetings of the Lawrence County Commissioners are at 11 a.m. on Tuesdays on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.