Awaiting word on grants for upcoming projects

The Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (CAO) discussed upcoming plans for possible Community Development Block Grant money at the Lawrence County Commission meeting Tuesday.

The CAO is currently awaiting notification of whether or not it will receive $295,000 worth of funds over two years, which would be used for various items.

“We’ve been discussing with them what projects they want us to use these funds for,” Ralph Kline, assistant executive director of the CAO, said.

Of the $295,000 in possible funds, $100,000 would be used to convert the old Ohio Department of Transportation building near the Ironton Spray Park into public restrooms and a concession stand to be used during open hours of the spray park or public events in the area; $136,000 would be split up between fixing the windows in the gymnasium area of the Chesapeake Community Center and continuing to add and balance out senior meals in Ironton and Chesapeake, soon to be Ironton and Proctorville when the Chesapeake-Sybene Senior Center moves permanently to Proctor’s Landing; and the final $59,000 for fair housing and administration.

Kline said the most important aspect of the funds would be for the senior meals, which are expected to increase when the Chesapeake-Sybene Senior Center moves.

Currently, there is a total count of 3,585 senior meals for Ironton and Chesapeake with only 1,990 meals being contracted out.

Contract Revenue through the Area Agency on Aging District 7 amounts to $11,920 and senior donations add up to $6,746 for a total revenue of $18,666. At a cost of $10.58 per meal, which includes the cost of food, transportation and those cooking, $16,875 is lost to meals over the contracted amount, adding to a projected monthly loss of $3,375 or $40,500 annually.

Kline said that with the Chesapeake-Sybene Senior Center’s move to the new Proctor’s Landing facility, that total annual loss is expected to jump up to around $60,000.

Also currently, the seniors in Ironton get five meals a week, while the seniors in Chesapeake are getting three meals a week. Kline added that with some of the funds from the $136,000 used for the senior meals, he hopes to be able to balance the meals better while also offsetting that total annual loss.

The CAO is also awaiting to hear about a $300,000 CDBG grant through the Ohio Development Services Agency, which Kline said was very competitive, to be able to make façade improvements to buildings around the Farmer’s Market square, including the Depot and the Ro-Na Theater just to name a few.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham, who also heads the Lawrence County Land Bank, announced that Monday would be the first day houses would be knocked down as part of the land bank’s operations.

During the commissioners reports, Freddie Hayes Jr. and DeAnna Holliday commended Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Andy Ballard and Lawrence County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson for putting on an addiction awareness event at Fairland High School Monday evening, and said events like that are much needed for communities struggling with addiction, such as Lawrence County.

Hayes Jr. and Holliday also said that fighting the addiction issue is not political, but rather the only way to overcome the problem is to work together.

“It’s good that both parties get together on these kinds of things,” Hayes said. “It’s not a Democrat thing or a Republican thing. It’s just Lawrence County as far as I’m concerned.”

Commission President Bill Pratt also appreciated Ballard and Anderson’s efforts, although he was not present at the event.

Following the meeting, the commissioners and county officeholders gathered for a meeting at the Depot.

“I called this meeting because sometimes there’s trouble with miscommunication between officeholders and I think we’ll all be better if we sit around a table and talk about certain issues,” Hayes said. “We’ll disagree on things, but when we get up, it’s important that we all leave here as friends.”

Hayes added that officeholder meetings are important to have every couple of months or so, especially around budget time.

Pratt said the only way for the county to continue to grow and improve is to continue to work together and bring some continuity to the county government.

Other items discussed at the officeholder meeting included Lawrence County EMS gaining signatures for a levy to appear on the November ballot, the Lawrence County Educational Service Center moving out of the courthouse and potential $4 million improvements to the courthouse, which would set it up for a long future.

In other action, commission:

• Approved two floodplain permits.

• Received and filed the Grand Jury Report dated June 21, 2017.

• Approved a request from the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services for the collaboration between the LCDJFS and the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) for the Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma) program.

The next Lawrence County Commission meeting is 12:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6 in commission chambers on the third floor of the courthouse.