Lawrence County Commissioners Meeting Minutes, April 7, 2026

Regular Session, 10:09 a.m. Thirteenth Business Meeting (seventeenth overall) of the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners.

Summary

The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 7, 2026. The main actions and updates are below, with the complete record following.

Child Abuse Prevention and Public Health proclamations

  • Missy Evans, Director of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services, opened the meeting by recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. She highlighted the fourth annual art contest, expanded this year to include students in grades 6–12, with the winning group from Ironton High School presenting their project.
  • The commissioners proclaimed April 2026 as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Awareness Month.
  • The commissioners declared April 5–11, 2026 as National Public Health Week.
  • Seventeen students were formally recognized as winners of the Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Month Art Contest.

Administrative approvals

  • Approved the corrected minutes from March 31, 2026.
  • Approved four floodplain permits from the Soil and Water Conservation District: a filling, grading, and valve installation project (Columbia Gas of Ohio); a personal use dirt bike track project (Danny Fry); and two stream maintenance projects (Michael & Diana Donahoe; Jason Tate Pennington).
  • Approved appropriations and transfers under $75,000 dated April 7, 2026, submitted by Dylan Bentley, County Administrator.

Personnel

  • Approved the hire of Christina Williams as CPS Investigator, pending BCI and FBI background checks.
  • Approved the reclassification of Leah Bryant from PT Paramedic to FT Paramedic, effective April 12, 2026.

Finance and bonds

  • Approved the Engagement as Bond Counsel Agreement with Dinsmore, pending prosecutor approval. Commissioner Finley abstained.
  • Authorized the issuance of not to exceed $6,700,000 in Building Improvement Bond Anticipation Notes for Lawrence County, Ohio, pending prosecutor approval. Commissioner Finley abstained.

Community presentation

  • Amanda Cleary introduced the Second Chance Recovery Program at Ironton Municipal Court, serving justice-involved Lawrence County residents with substance use disorders through treatment, housing, employment, and family services, and reporting strong participant outcomes.
  • She announced a “Fresh Start” event on April 28–29, 2026, giving individuals with certain warrants the opportunity to resolve them without arrest, set up payment plans, and access support services.

Full minutes

Members present

  • Mrs. DeAnna Holliday, President
  • Dr. Colton Copley, Vice President
  • Mr. Mike Finley, Member

Commissioner Holliday, President of the Board, opened the meeting with roll call. All three members were present.

Proclamations

Missy Evans, Director of the Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services, opened the event by recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. She noted this was the fourth annual art contest, which was expanded this year to include students in grades 6–12 in addition to K–5. The program began with the high school division (grades 9–12), where students were challenged to present innovative ideas focused on supporting the whole child within the school system. The winning group from Ironton High School presented their project.

Moved by Commissioner Finley, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to declare the month of April 2026 Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention and Awareness Month. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.

Moved by Commissioner Holliday, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to declare the week of April 5–11, 2026 as National Public Health Week. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.

Actions, in order

  1. Moved by Commissioner Holliday, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to approve the meeting minutes of March 31, 2026, as corrected. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
  2. Moved by Commissioner Finley, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to approve the following floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
    • New, permit 2026-758: Columbia Gas of Ohio — filling & grading and valve installation projects located at lat. 38.4422429 and long. -82.4050516.
    • Renewal, permit 2026-756: Danny Fry — personal use dirt bike track project located beside 3580 Co. Rd. 52.
    • Renewal, permit 2026-757: Michael & Diana Donahoe — stream maintenance project located at 17174 St. Rt. 775.
    • Renewal, permit 2026-759: Jason Tate Pennington — stream maintenance project located at 523 Pvt. Rd. 531.
  3. Moved by Commissioner Holliday, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to approve the appropriations and transfers dated April 7, 2026, under $75,000.00, submitted by Dylan Bentley, County Administrator. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
  4. Moved by Commissioner Finley, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to approve the hire of Christina Williams as CPS Investigator, pending BCI and FBI checks. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
  5. Moved by Commissioner Holliday, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to make the following personnel change: Leah Bryant from PT Paramedic to FT Paramedic, effective April 12, 2026. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
  6. Moved by Commissioner Holliday, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to approve and sign the Engagement as Bond Counsel Agreement with Dinsmore, pending prosecutor approval. Roll call: Finley abstained; Holliday and Copley voted yes.
  7. Moved by Commissioner Copley, seconded by Commissioner Holliday, to authorize the issuance of not to exceed $6,700,000 Building Improvement Bond Anticipation Notes, Lawrence County, Ohio, pending prosecutor approval. Roll call: Finley abstained; Holliday and Copley voted yes.
  8. Moved by Commissioner Finley, seconded by Commissioner Copley, to award the following Child Abuse/Neglect Prevention Month Contest winners. Roll call: Finley, Holliday, and Copley voted yes.
    • Parker Walburn
    • Ember Parsons
    • Letty Ward
    • Athena Byrd
    • Laney Ward
    • Livvie Russell
    • Leighton Fraley
    • Nevaeh Turvey
    • Tanner Kleinman
    • Gabe Fitzpatrick
    • Brady Easthom
    • Nate Sloan
    • Mason Wheeler
    • Alli Davis
    • Tori Moore
    • Beckett Townsend
    • Lexi Adams

Community presentation

Amanda Cleary introduced the Second Chance Recovery Program at Ironton Municipal Court, which supports justice-involved Lawrence County residents with substance use disorders through treatment, housing, employment, and family services. She highlighted strong outcomes, including employment, housing stability, and family reunification among current participants.

She also announced a “Fresh Start” event on April 28–29, 2026, allowing individuals with certain warrants to resolve them without arrest, set up payment plans, and access support services. The initiative aims to reduce jail burden and give residents a chance to move forward.

Attestation

Commissioner Holliday adjourned the meeting.

Board of Lawrence County Commissioners, Lawrence County, Ohio. Signed by DeAnna Holliday, President; Dr. Colton Copley, Vice President; and Mike Finley, Member. Attested by Colton Kuhn, Clerk.

Official record

The signed minutes are the official record of this meeting.

Download the official signed minutes for April 7, 2026 (PDF)