Treasurer sends out letters on delinquent taxes

The first meeting of a new initiative to clean up Lawrence County, called Project First Impression, a collaboration between the county commissioners and the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District, will take place at 3 p.m. today at the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, commissioner DeAnna Holliday said at the county commission meeting on Tuesday.

Holliday is one of those leading the drive, and said that the meeting will cover all aspects of cleaning up the county. Anyone who is interested in hearing more about Project First Impression, and possibly becoming involved as a volunteer, is invited to come to the meeting.

Speakers will include Lawrence County Municipal Judge Donald Capper and Ironton Municipal Judge Kevin Waldo.

Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Burcham said that his office sent out 410 registered letters this past week, amounting to $759,000 in delinquent taxes, for people who are approximately two years delinquent.

“At this point, we’ve advised these individuals that there is a company that’s interested in purchasing their tax liens should they fail to do that. I encourage them to come into my office and set up a contract, because if they set up a contract in my office, there’s no interest that is charged or any additional fees,” Burcham said. “If they continue not to do that, this company will charge them interest on taxes that they step in and pay. I encourage everyone who has received that letter, or anyone who’s having trouble paying their taxes and have a small amount of delinquency, please come in. We want to help you and we want to set it up so we can take it out of your account and you can be whole with your taxes and not have additional problems.”

Burcham also talked about the Lawrence County Land Bank, which is looking to demolish around 60 houses this year. Burcham said that if the land bank demos 60 houses this year, it would bring its total to 234 homes by the end of 2019.

During the commissioners reports, commissioner Colton Copley mentioned the upcoming 2020 census, and said that people who are interested in making some extra money or some part-time work can apply to work the census. For those interested, more information can be found by visiting www.2020census.gov/jobs.

In regards to the census, Holliday also encouraged everyone in Lawrence County to fill out the census when the time comes, as many of the funds available to the county are directly related to the county’s population through the census.

“I can’t stress the importance of filling out that census,” she said. “It really does mean a lot to the county and what we and the area will be able to offer in the future.”

Copley also recognized Christ Temple Church in Huntington for hosting “Night to Shine” 2019, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, on Friday night. The event is a prom for special needs children 14 and older, and takes place all around the world.

In other action, the commission:

• Approved four floodplain permit renewals.

• Approved two appropriations.

• Approved three transfer funds.

• Received and filed the report of the operation of Lawrence County Municipal Court from Jan. 1, 2018 through Dec. 31, 2018.

• Approved and signed the Ohio Airport Grant for Obstruction Removal; Tree and Brush Clearing in the amount of $242,531 under the Fiscal Year 2019, pending the approval of the Lawrence County prosecutor.

• Approved and signed the Housing Revolving Loan Fund Administration Agreement, as requested by Cindy Caskey, CAO, and as approved by Mack Anderson, assistant prosecutor.

• Approved the resignation of paramedic Chris Epperson, effective Feb. 16, 2019, as requested by Mac Yates, EMS operations administrator.

• Approved transferring the retired ambulance insured on LCEMS policy to the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office insurance policy, as requested by Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless, requesting it to be converted into an inmate transport vehicle.

• Met in executive session with Lori Morris and Mac Yates regarding personnel; hire, fire, reprimand. No action was taken.

• Met in executive session with Chris Kline regarding personnel; hire, fire, reprimand. No action was taken.

• Met in executive session with Chris Kline regarding real estate. No action was taken.