Commissioners’ 52nd Business Meeting
56th Overall Meeting
December 2nd, 2025
11:30 a.m.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners met in a Regular Session on the above date and time.
Commissioner Copley, President of the Board, opened the meeting with roll call:
Dr. Colton Copley, President———–—-Present
Mrs. DeAnna Holliday, Vice President—Present
Mr. Mike Finley, Member——————-Present
Summary of Meeting Minutes from December 2, 2025
Lawrence County Commissioners Meeting Highlights – December 2, 2025
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners met on December 2, 2025, for their 52nd business meeting of the year. All three commissioners were present. Below is a clear and simple summary of the key actions and discussions from the meeting.
Routine Approvals
- The board approved the meeting minutes from November 25, 2025, with corrections.
- A floodplain permit renewal was approved for McGinnis, Inc. for filling, grading, and barge repair work on County Road 1.
Financial Actions and Budget Decisions
- Appropriations and transfers under $75,000 were approved, with one commissioner abstaining.
- $375,000 was appropriated to the Sheriff’s Cruiser Fund.
- An $80,000 transfer between county accounts was approved.
- The County Auditor was authorized to make year-end transfers needed to balance 2025 accounts.
- The County Administrator was given authority to sign legal documents and handle necessary transfers between the final 2025 meeting and the first meeting of 2026.
- The board received and filed the County Auditor’s certificate confirming that spending does not exceed available resources.
- The 2026 All Funds Appropriations Budget was approved, with one commissioner abstaining.
Labor Agreements and Contracts
- Collective bargaining agreements were approved for the Clerk of Courts and the County Treasurer with Teamsters Local 92, covering multi-year terms through 2028.
- Documents related to county Brownfields projects were approved and signed.
Public Comment and Infrastructure Concerns
- A county resident raised concerns about storm drainage issues near Walmart Way that have caused flooding at a local business.
- The commissioners agreed to forward the concern to the County Engineer for review and emphasized the importance of maintaining infrastructure that supports local employers.
Grants and Community Support
- The board approved a $50,000 donation to the Lawrence County Rural Water District for the Water for Waterloo Project.
Executive Sessions
- Several executive sessions were held to discuss personnel matters and legal contracts.
Employee Bonuses and Operations
- Year-end bonuses were approved for EMS staff, with full-time employees receiving $500 and part-time bonuses based on hours worked.
- Additional year-end bonuses were approved for county directors, administrative staff, maintenance workers, and custodial staff at varying amounts.
- The County Administrator was authorized to move forward with bidding for the Recorder’s Office project, pending approval from the Prosecutor.
The meeting concluded with all motions approved as noted, and the board adjourned after completing year-end business items.
Source: Lawrence County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes, December 2, 2025.
[oai_citation:0‡12-03-2025 Commissioners Minutes.pdf](sediment://file_000000000d68720c89a5309d1764ec33)
Full Text of Meeting Minutes from December 2, 2025
Commissioners’ 52nd Business Meeting
56th Overall Meeting
December 2nd, 2025
11:30 a.m.
__________________________________________________________________________
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners met in a Regular Session on the above date and time.
Commissioner Copley, President of the Board, opened the meeting with roll call:
Dr. Colton Copley, President Present
Mrs. DeAnna Holliday, Vice President Present
Mr. Mike Finley, Member Present
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To approve the Meeting Minutes on November 25th, 2025, as corrected.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Finley, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To approve the following floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District:
New:
None
Renewal:
2025-885 McGinnis, Inc.-Filling & grading and barge repair facility projects located at 740 Co. Rd. 1.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Holliday
To approve the following appropriations and transfers dated December 2nd, 2025, under $75,000.00 submitted by Dylan Bentley, County Administrator.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley ABSTAIN Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve the appropriation of $375,000 to N51-10A-004-000 (Cruiser Fund)
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve the transfer of $80,000.00 from K00-12A-061-000 to K04-12A-157-061
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To authorize the County Auditor to make all appropriations and transfers as deemed necessary to balance out all accounts for 2025. An accounting of all transfers and appropriations made by the County Auditor will be given to the commissioners and journalized in the first meeting of 2026.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To authorize the County Administrator, Dylan Bentley, to sign and approve legal documents that come before the county after the last meeting of 2025 and before the first meeting of 2026, as well as make all appropriations and transfers as deemed necessary for the operations of the county, and to process all transfers and appropriations as needed to balance out all accounts for 2025. An accounting of all transfers and appropriations made by the administrator will be given to the commissioners and journalized in the first meeting of 2026.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To receive and file the Certificate of County Auditor That the Total Appropriations from Each Fund Do Not Exceed the Official Estimate of Resources
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Holliday
To approve the 2026 All Funds Appropriations Budget
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley ABSTAIN Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve and sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts and the General Truck Drivers and Helpers Union Local No. 92, effective December 26, 2025 – December 25, 2028.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve and sign the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Lawrence County Treasurer and the General Truck Drivers and Helpers Union Local No. 92, effective January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2028.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve and sign the documents for the Brownfields projects.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
A resident, Ed Moellendick, addressed the Board with concerns about the storm sewer system between Walmart Way and the opposite end of Walmart’s property, noting that an above-ground section has become heavily silted and overgrown, causing poor drainage and resulting in significant flooding at DJ Manufacturing’s parking lot during recent rains. He suggested clearing and reworking the open ditch as a practical solution. The Board thanked Mr. Moellendick for providing both a complaint and a proposed remedy and explained that the County Engineer is responsible for such work, agreeing to forward the concern for review. Commissioners emphasized the importance of maintaining adequate infrastructure for local employers and thanked him for bringing the issue to their attention.
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To donate $50,000 to the Lawrence County Rural Water District for the Water for Waterloo Project.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To meet in executive session with Dylan Bentley, Kathy Bamer and Dave Hamm regarding personnel
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Call Back: Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To meet in executive session with Dylan Bentley and Denise Paulus regarding personnel.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Call Back: Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Finley, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To meet in executive session with Dylan Bentley regarding legal contracts
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Call Back: Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Copley, Seconded by Commissioner Finley
To approve EMS year-end bonuses: full time employees – $500; part time employees calculated based on hours worked, director to approve.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Holliday, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
To authorize the following year-end bonus:
Animal Shelter Director, County Administrator, DJFS Director, EMS Director and Finance Administrator, EMA Director, and Support Services Director: $1500
Clerk & Facilities Lead: $750
Maintenance staff & custodians: $500 FT; $350 PT
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Motion by Commissioner Finley, Seconded by Commissioner Copley
Authorize County Administrator to bid and conduct bid opening of Recorder’s Office Project, pending Prosecutor approval.
Roll Call: Commissioner Finley Yes Commissioner Holliday Yes Commissioner Copley Yes
Commissioner Copley adjourned the meeting.
______________________________________
Dr. Colton Copley, President
______________________________________
DeAnna Holliday, Vice President
______________________________________
Mike Finley, Member
Bd of Lawrence County Commissioners
Lawrence County, Ohio
ATTEST: _________________________, Clerk
Colton Kuhn, Clerk
Bd of Lawrence County Commissioners
Lawrence County, Ohio