Retirement and Additional Funds Discussed At Lawrence Co. Comm. Mtg.

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(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department is reworking their retirement program for their employees.

Elaine Beaty with McCready and Keene and Ed Payntor with Morgan Stanley were at last night's County Council meeting explaining to the board members new changes for retirees. Beaty said a cost of living increase will be added to the policy.

Retirees will receive a percentage increase each year of their retirement. Also, new employees will now have to work at the sheriff's department for at least 10 years before they can retire with the new benefits. For those who work longer than 10 years retirement will be at age 55.

An additional $16,000 will be needed from the county to implement the changes. Beaty and Payntor will draft an amendment to be presented at the next board meeting.

Meanwhile, in a continuing effort to fund the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department gas, utilities, inmate meals and medical funds, Lawrence County Sheriff Kent Hawkins spoke to the Lawrence County Council Tuesday night. He was looking for an additional $102,500 for all four funds.

In the discussion, Hawkins said the jail is billed $275 every three months for water sprinkler system that he doesn't understand. He said the sprinkler system was set off only one time recently in one of the jail cells. He also mentioned the jail has an $18,000 medical charge that needs to be paid.

The board added $23,000 to the utilities fund and gave Hawkins the $20,500 he was looking for in the medical fund. The gas fund will be examined in next month's meeting and Hawkins will be responsible for the meals fund.

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