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Commissions Look At Security, Address 911 System, Set Fees

Last updated on Wednesday, August 1, 2012

(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Commissioners are reviewing a security report from the Judicial Center in Indianapolis.

The report looks at security issues at the courthouse and courthouse plaza.

Lawrence County Sheriff Sam Craig presented the report to the commissioners for review. He says if the commissioners follow the security recommendations, the county would need to hire three full-time employees and place other security measures at each building.

Craig explained, one officer would be placed in the Courthouse and the other at the Courthouse Plaza. The third would fill in when an officer is on vacation or sick and during lunch breaks.

In other business:

• Sheriff Sam Craig reported there were 111 inmates at the Lawrence County Jail, 21 are women and 15 Department of Corrections inmates.

Craig provided the commissioners three bids for the removal of asbestos from the courthouse annex building. The commissioners took the bids under advisement.

• Amanda Parker, of Centerstone gave the commissioners an update on the programs Centerstone offers. The center receives $157,000 from taxpayers, but provides more then $334,000 in services to the county.

• The commissioners voted to renewed the counties insurance with Anthem.

• Highway Superintendent David Holmes reported crews were digging culverts, mowing and cutting brush. Holmes thanked the district managers and volunteer firefighters for their help in clearing tree limbs after storms.

• Mitchell City Councilwomen Vicky Schlegel was appointed to the library board.

• Project Manager Bob Dillon reported the siding for the Williams Covered bridge was in and being painted and put up. Commissioner Bill Spreen says he is not pleased that old siding was going to be used on the bridge.

"I strongly oppose putting that old lumber on that bridge," Spreen said. "I know the historical agency want us to use up to 10 percent of the original wood, but it will look different and it is not the original wood, it is white pine we have put up over the years to repair the bridge. It is a waste of taxpayer's money and that needs to be pointed out."

Dillon says he will see what he could do to address the issue.

Dillon says the bridge inspections have been completed and he was waiting on a final report from the state. He added many of the bridge sign are missing and he is in the process of taking an inventory and seeing the signs are replaced.

Crews are also doing culvert repairs.

• Commissioners heard from ATT 911 Account Manager Craig Bennett. Bennett explained the 911 system and the lease they are offering the county. By 2012 the current contract with ATT expires. The commissioners took the contract under advisement.

• The Commissioners approved an ordinance saying no public swimming pool will be operated in Lawrence County without a permit from the Health Department. The pool water must be tested once a week for bacteria by a state approved laboratory. The test results must be turned into the Lawrence County Health Department. If not the Health Department could close the pool.

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