County Government Changes

County Courthouse – 111 South 4th St., Ironton
This building is open for scheduled appointments only.

• The Board of Election access will depend on directives issued by the Ohio Secretary of State. As more information becomes available it will be shared with the public.
• Employees are continuing to work and will provide services using as much technology as possible.
  Members of the public should schedule appointments for necessary physical access to all other courthouse offices – Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Commissioners, Clerk of Courts, Prosecutor, Veterans, Probate/Juvenile Court, Common Pleas Court, Law Library, and Extension Office. If physical access can at all be postponed, please do so. Many activities can be conducted via phone, email, fax, or postal service.
• When it is determined that appointments are needed, we ask that everyone practice good social distancing measures.
• An appropriate staff member will be notified upon arrival at the security entrance and escort you to the proper meeting place. If you are not on an appointment list, security will not allow you in the building.
• The first half tax collection deadline has already passed. Any tax payments that still need to be made can be done so by mail, with the effective date of the payment that of the postmark or by utilizing the Treasurer’s website
  
• It is highly encouraged that all documents (deeds, affidavits, etc.) that relate to real estate transactions be done through the mail.
  
• There will be a drop box between the two sets of doors on the 5th St. side of the building for all documents that need to be delivered to all offices within the courthouse (auto titles, deeds, etc.). If any of these documents/filings require a payment, do not leave cash, only checks or money orders should be attached. Please place all documents in a sealed envelope and write the name of the office the documents to which the documents are to be sent. This box will be checked multiple times each day, and items distributed to the appropriate office.
  
• Payins from county departments that only involve checks are requested to be placed into the drop box. If cash is involved in the payin, then an appointment needs to be made with the auditor to come into the office to process the payin.
  
• Please see the attached court order informing of court access. Please see the attached court order informing of court access. (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

• The Auditor’s Office will be completely closed to the public and other offices. The auditor’s real estate duplicates are the only records that would currently need to be physically accessed by someone from the public. We have those duplicates scanned and in the process of being placed on our website. Everything else can be done by mail, fax, email, or phone. The staff is also going to be cut in half and working on rotating weeks.
  
• The Recorder’s office will be closed to the public and other courthouse employees on Tuesdays and Thursdays but will still be accessible by phone 8a – 4p. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday we will be open to the public from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.. Information is available online at www.lawrencecountyohiorecorder.org. We will continue to accept recordings by mail or by using the drop box, which is located between the double doors on the fifth street entrance to the courthouse.
• Probate-Juvenile Court has issued a general order regarding parenting time and visitation: See notice in document here: (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

Consistent with an opinion of the Ohio Attorney General, the County Commissioner meetings will be live streamed on the Commissioner Facebook page, but will not be physically open to the public from March 18, 2020, until otherwise notified. The only people physically allowed in the meetings will be the county commissioners, county administrator, commission administrative assistant, the operator of the livestream equipment, and any other elected official, or department head that absolutely must be present in the meeting. It is encouraged that all elected officials and department heads communicate in written format anything that needs to be brought to the commissioners for action. Please check the commissioner website (www.lawrencecounty.org) and the commissioner Facebook page for a schedule of upcoming meetings.

County Jail – 115 So 5th St., Ironton
This office is open only for necessary law enforcement activity.

County Engineer’s Office – 3001 So 6th St., Ironton
This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

Lawrence County Department of Job and Family Services  – 1100 So 7th St., Ironton

Including Child Support Enforcement and Children’s Services

This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind, please use either phone or internet services if at all possible. Please see the Department of Job and Family Services’ operational plan (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

Union Rome Sewer Office – 32 Private Drive 11100, Chesapeake


Lawrence County Animal Shelter – 1302 Adams Lane, Ironton

This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.

Lawrence County Juvenile Center – 4676 St Rt 93, Ironton


This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.

Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District – 5459 St Rt 217 Willow Wood

This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

See County COVID PLAN for more details (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

Lawrence County Municipal Court (Ironton), 301 S 3rd Street P.O. 237 – 3rd Floor Ironton, Ohio 45638 

This office has limited access, please contact the court directly.

• Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday closed at noon.
  
• Monday hours: 8:30am-4:00pm
  
• Thursday hours: 8:30am-2:00pm
• Will return to full-time status the week of May 11
• See County COVID PLAN for more details (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

Lawrence County Municipal Court 10916 Co Rd 1, Chesapeake 

THE COURT WILL RETURN TO ITS REGULAR OPERATING SCHEDULE AND HOURS OF OPERATION BEGINNING MAY 1, 2020.

This office has limited access, please contact the court directly.

• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.
• See County COVID PLAN for more details (Download the County COVID PLAN HERE to see this attachment)

SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER RELATING TO PHONE-IN PAYMENT PLANS ON MINOR MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC CITATIONS.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Lawrence County Municipal Court is allowing defendants who cannot pay their citation in full via the online payment process or by mail to phone the clerk’s office and set up a payment plan on minor misdemeanor traffic citations only. You will be given a “final pay date.” You may make payments in any amount during that time period. Failure to pay the citation by the final pay date will result in a $25.00 late fee and a suspension of your drivers license. The court will not allow an extension of a final pay date.

By requesting that a payment plan be set up, you understand that you are pleading “Guilty” to all charges against you as listed on the citation, consequently waiving your right to an appearance in court or to a trial. You further understand that, when processed, this will close your case and the Court will forward this information to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the appropriate points will still be added to your license.

To set up a payment plan all the Clerk’s office at (740) 867-3127 during business hours.

SUPPLEMENTAL ORDER RELATING TO CONTINUATION OF COURT
IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Lawrence County Municipal Court is making adjustments to the court schedule:

All pending evening traffic court dockets are continued to May 26, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. Any person who has a summons will not be required to attend and there will be no enforcement action submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles due to non-appearance or failure to pay for persons cited into a traffic court docket prior to the May 26, 2020 docket.

The court’s community service program is suspended until the COVID-19 crisis is resolved and the court makes further Orders.

All review hearings are made into telephonic review hearings with the probation department (740) 867-3127 x 27 until further Order of the Court.

All civil hearings and trials are continued indefinitely. The court will not set hearings on small claim cases or forcible entries and detainers until further notice, except where domestic violence is the basis for the eviction. Those cases will be heard as expeditiously as possible.

All criminal trials that are not time sensitive will be continued. Persons who have attorneys representing them should consult with their attorney about when they should appear in court.

All persons having motions or pre-trials should consult with their attorney about their case. The court is conducting as many hearings as possible through teleconferencing and telephone.

The Clerk’s office will remain open by appointment only, but encourages everyone to make payments via mail or online at www.lawcomunicourt.com. Only persons having business before the court should appear in person. Anyone exhibiting signs of illness should not appear. Any questions should be directed to the Clerk of Court by telephone at (740) 867-3127.

Lawrence County Health Department – 2122 So 8th St., Ironton


This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments.

• The health department will only be operating Mission Essential Functions.
• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.
• Patients will be asked not to come to the health department if they are sick.
• We’re asking funeral directors to drop off or mail requests for death certificates.
• Please call initially to request birth records to verify accuracy. Staff will advise when to come into the office to complete paperwork.
• Please call the health department prior to appointments.
• Staff will be at the front entrance to take temperatures of those seeking services.

Lawrence County 911/EMA Center – 515 Park Ave, Ironton


This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments. 


• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.

Lawrence County Joint Response Operation Center – 715 Lane St, Coal Grove

Including EMS, Coroner, Various Sheriff Departments


This office is closed to the public, except for scheduled appointments. 


• Employees are continuing to work and will use technology to every extent possible.
• EMS service will continue, however it is requested that anyone who asks for EMS assistance, please identify if the person needing assistance has cold/flu-like symptoms.
• Any necessary meetings need to be scheduled with social distancing in mind.

Lawrence County Board of Developmental Disabilities – 604 Carlton Davidson Lane, Coal Grove

Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities COVID-19 Re-opening Procedure

The Lawrence County Developmental Disabilities (LCDD) will implement a transitional re-opening plan effective June 1, 2020 – July 31, 2020. During this time the buildings will be open to staff who are scheduled to return on a limited basis. Supervisors will develop and monitor attendance schedules for their departments. Visitors will be allowed in the buildings by appointment only and with Supervisor approval.

The LCDD Board office will be open Monday – Friday – 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., with limited staff present, but the SSA Department/Open Door School building will be open only as scheduled. Most staff members will continue to work remotely, with scheduled and limited attendance in the buildings through the week. This will minimize the amount of people present at one time.

1) Staff members are required to do a daily health assessment that includes monitoring for symptoms such as shortness of breath, coughing, and feeling unwell, as well as taking their temperature before coming into a building. If needed, temperatures may be checked upon arrival to the building, but the Supervisor needs to be made aware this is a need. Staff members with a temperature of or above 100.4, or who show visible signs of illness (coughing, shortness of breath) will not be permitted to enter the building.

2) Staff members will be required to wear a face mask while in common areas (walking through hallways, in a break room, etc.) or anytime they are in the same room as others. Masks will be provided if needed. Masks will not be required when working in an office or other work area alone, but must be readily available.

3) Visitors may enter the buildings by appointment, but a staff member should meet visitors at the door. All scheduled visits must be approved by the appropriate Supervisor. All exterior doors will be kept locked, and visitors will be required to have their temperature taken before entering, observe social distancing of 6 ft, and wear a face mask. Anyone with a temperature of or above 100.4, or has visible signs of illness (coughing, shortness of breath) or who is unable to social distance or wear a mask, will not be permitted to enter the building.

4) Staff members should wipe down their work areas with a disinfectant wipe daily. These will be provided.

5) Custodial staff will disinfect common areas at the end of each day including, but not limited to, doorknobs, copy and fax machines, postage machines, tables, chairs, kitchen areas and restrooms.

6) All staff should wash their hands with soap and water thoroughly and often. Hand sanitizer will be available in all common areas for use when needed.

7) Any in person meetings should be limited to 10 people or less, and in an area where social distancing of 6 ft. can occur.

8) Attendance at out-of-town meetings and trainings remain suspended until further notice.

9) Non-emergency home visits remain suspended until further notice.