Talks continue on new facility

The Lawrence County Jail is getting a step closer to hiring a new physician.

Recently Dr. Rodolfo Canos retired as the jail doctor and Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless is negotiating with Team Health out of Dayton for Dr. Alice Frazier to take over those duties.

“Without a physician we need to move forward,” Lawless told Lawrence County Commissioners at their Tuesday work session.

Frazier would join the jail’s medical team of a registered nurse and EMT already on staff.

Right now, Frazier works for jails in Scioto, Ross and Jackson counties and would be responsible for weekly calls at the facility.

Also at the work session the Rev. Sallie Schisler of Christ Episcopal Church asked about reports that the county was considering the block between Fifth and Sixth streets where the church is located for the new jail.

Commission president Les Boggs admitted plans for building a new jail are being discussed.

“The plan is not etched in stone and the location is not etched in stone,” Boggs said. “There will be disagreements on the location.”

Boggs said he expected there to be a series of meetings before the plan is ironed out.

“I see dissension about where it should be,” he said. “You are not going to wake up with a wrecking ball.”