Would look at physical toll to first responders

At Tuesday’s Lawrence County Commissioners meeting, they got a proposal from a pre-med student to have the county’s EMTs participate in a study about the effects of their job on their body.

Lawrence County EMS Executive Director of Operations David Hahn, said one of his employees, who is in her final year in the pre-med program at Marshall University, came to him with the idea of doing the study with her professor.

The study would “look at the physical toll this job takes on the body. If approved, they would bring a mobile MRI on some of the employees who have signed an agreement to allow them to do that,” he said. The study would then be compiled and submitted to the state governments of Ohio and West Virginia.

Hahn said he wanted to run the idea before the commissioners before agreeing to it.

Commissioner Colton Copley asked if the study would only involve Lawrence County EMTs or whether it would include Cabell County EMTs.

Hahn said at this time, it would only be Lawrence County but it may be expanded to other EMTs.

There is no financial responsibility to the county for the study.

Copley said they would run it by Brigham Anderson, the county’s legal counsel, to see if there were any legal issues for the county.

“In theory, I think it sounds like a great opportunity for her and for us to further the knowledge of how to improve EMS,” Copley said. “It’s exciting. Hopefully, we can help with the project after we talk to Brigham.”

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

• Approved floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District for a renewal of a permit for Danny Holschuh, filling and grading project located at 2131 County Road 9.

• Approved appropriations and transfers dated March 25, 2025, under $75,000, submitted by Dylan Bentley, acting administrator.

• 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 DJFS IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Common Pleas Court in the amount of $127,674.15, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

• Approved and signed the DJFS IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Clerk of Courts in the amount of $19,326.94, term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

• Approved and signed the IV-D Contract Security Addendum for the Department of Job and Family Services.

• Approved and signed the DJFs IV-D contract with Lawrence County Child Support and Lawrence County Juvenile Court in the amount of $140,694.02, term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

• Approved Danny Larsen from part-time EMT to full-time EMT effective March 26, 2025.

• Approved the first and final change order for PID 117369 TR101.40 Bridge Replacement, submitted by Patrick Leighty, County Engineer.

• Approved the Preliminary Resolution and advertise to publish for public viewing and public hearing for Private Road 3467.

• Approved the appointment of James Hayes to the Lawrence County Regional Planning Commission beginning April 1, 2025, through March 31, 2025.

• Received and filed the 2024 Annual Storm Water Report submitted by Kim Carrico, Urban Education Specialist, Soil and Water Conservation District.

• Approved and signed the CCAO Worker’s Compensation Plan agreement.

The commissioners meet at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in the commissioners’ chamber on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.