With the $250,000 from the Sherman Thompson Towers transfer unavailable for the county to spend at this time, funding capital projects may come from County Treasurer’s Neighborhood Investment Program.

At its regular Thursday meeting Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless asked the commission the status of a request for funds he had made about a month ago to put radios and light bars and add stripping to four used cruisers donated to the sheriff’s office.

“I’m beating the drum for the vehicles again,” Lawless said. “I appreciate the fact you are to order two or three new cars, but I have four sitting.”

Students at the Collins Career Center are painting them.

“That is saving a ton of money on paint,” he said.

But other items must be added before they can be put on the road.

“I have got to get cruisers on the road,” he said, “get radios and light bars to get them on the road.”

Lawless also made another request for new vehicles. Commission had originally said it would consider five new cruisers, but later reduced that to three.

Commissioner Les Boggs asked about the status of the $250,000 check from LM Associates and was told that the budget commission is seeking a ruling from the state auditor on how the money can be used. The commissioners had wanted to apply that to fund their list of capital projects.

“We might have to go ahead with (County Treasurer Stephen) Burcham’s program,” Commission President Bill Pratt said at the meeting.

Now the Lawrence County Commissioners are considering borrowing $505,500 to pay for five cruisers for the sheriff’s office for $146,000; upgrading the four donated cruisers for $28,000; replacing the roof on the county jail for $69,500; upgrades at the courthouse for $72,000; a new ambulance for the Aid station at $120,000; and 911 dispatching software upgrades for $70,000.

The commissioners may make a decision on whether to borrow the funds at their next meeting on Thursday.

In other action the commissioners:

• Approved the drug task force budget of $67,410;

• Met in executive session with Lawless and Ironton attorney Mark McCown for collective bargaining with no action taken.

• Accepted the dog warden’s report where six dogs were adopted or sent to rescue; one was redeemed by its owner and none were destroyed.