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Last updated on Thursday, November 29, 2012
(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Council took care of some year-end business Tuesday night.
The council approved several transfers and additional appropriations. They also said goodbye to Lawrence County Coroner John Sherrill, who will be replaced by Rob Herr and to long-time Councilman Mike Branham, who chose not to run for re-election. The council will not meet in December.
* Clerk-Treasurer Myron Rainey requested $3,500 to pay for three CPU units and to do repairs on voting machines. Rainey told the board that before the next election the commissioners and council will have to decide if they will go back to the old paper ballots to cast votes or purchase new voting machines.
* Project Director Bob Dillon requested to transfer $5,361 into his material account to pay for stone used to put in culverts and $15,000 to pay for fuel and oil for the rest of the year.
*The health department requested the council approve a budget a $5,000 for the Lawrence County Medical Core. They will have their first meeting tonight at 5 p.m. The Core is being funded by a grant.
* Coroner John Sherrill requested $5,000 to pay for outstanding ambulance, autopsy and toxicology testing. Sherrill requested the council to seek a written contract with the ambulance services because they are currently charging the county full price for transporting bodies.
"We had a gentleman's agreement with the hospitals and they normally charge us $75," Sherrill says. "And we have been paying that, but they continue to send up bills for the full price."
* Tourism Director Dave Branneman requested the council approve the 2013 budget of $254,415. Branneman told the council that all the money in the budget is collected from the Inn Keepers Tax. The budget did not increase. Branneman say that half of the budget will be used to pay for trade shows, promoting and marketing Lawrence County.
* The council approved the additional appropriation of $252,485 to various departments to make payroll for salary employees.
Councilman Keith Dillman says this only happens every 9 to 10 years when the budget is short those salaries, but something needs to be done to stop it from happening.
"We need to avoid this and make a plan and establish a fund aimed at taking care of this problem," Dillman says. "Another option is to pay salary employees twice a month and this wouldn't happen. We do not get into this problem with hourly employees."
* Sheriff Sam Craig and Circuit Court Judge Andrea McCord addressed the council about the security issues in circuit court.
The security committee requested that two security doors be installed, one at the entrance of the family courtroom area and another at the entrance of McCord's court clerk's office.
They also requested to install an area on the upper level of the courthouse annex to allow for a baggage scanner and area to scan individuals as they enter the building.
The improvements will be paid for from funds from the sale of Dunn Memorial Hospital.
* Superior Court I Judge Michael Robbins requested permission to hire a bailiff. His current bailiff resigned her position.
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