Valerie Luchauer Appointed As Lawrence County ADA Coordinator

Last updated on Tuesday, November 4, 2014

(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Commissioners voted Monday morning to appoint Valerie Luchauer the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator.

The county hired DLZ to inspect county properties for possible breaches of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The county will pay DLZ to view the sites, identify problems, then recommend and prioritize projects that will bring the county into compliance.

Luchauer will serve as the local coordinator to address issues.

Mike Keeven, a consultant with DLZ, explained counties not in compliance risk losing access to federal funds and can become vulnerable to legal action. He noted a willingness to prepare an action plan would be to the county's advantage.

In other business:

The commissioners will be looking into building a facility to house the counties snow removal material.

"We need to be looking at the numbers to provide a facility and develop a plan for next year," said Commissioner Chris May.

Snow removal materials need to stay dry, if they get wet they freeze in the trucks.

Currently, the county has enough snow removal supplies for this year.

"But we will have to begin looking at next winter," said Highway superintendent David Holmes.

The county has plenty of salt, thanks to Holmes ordering salt last year. Currently there is a salt shortage.

"We will be using less salt this year," Holmes added. "Because we will be changing the mixture we use."

The commissioners voted agreed to purchase 500 to 600 tons of bottom ash at $1.75 a ton.

"We will use that to mix with the snow removal material," Holmes added.

Holmes reported paving in District 1 is complete. In District 2 crews will be paving Watson Merry Road and in District 3 crews will pave Bud Stipp Road on Thursday, weather permitting. When those roads are done, paving will be completed in those districts.

Highway crews are still patching some area roads and continue to cut brush and mow. Crews are also replacing street signs in District I.

Crews will be paving the approaches to Bridge 199 (Tunnelton-Dennison Road) and Bridge 65 (Tunnelton Road) on Wednesday, weather permitting.

Sheriff Sam Craig reported the jail count at 107 inmates, including 19 females and 8 Department of Correction prisoners.

Sheriff Craig also gave an update on the broken washing machine at the jail. Thanks to a generous donation for St. Vincent Dunn Hospital the jail was given a used industrial size washing machine saving the county about $12,000.

The county received four bids for a 2007 Ford Explorer the Sheriff's Department was selling. Ryan Otis submitted the winning bid for $4,000.

Lawrence County Veterans Affairs Director Brad Bough says the county will host a Veteran's Day program at the courthouse on November 11 beginning at 11 a.m. A full event of schedules will be provided soon.

The county approved a lease agreement with Workforce Development.

The county passed a resolution accepting a vacant alley on the Elliott Stone Company property from the City of Bedford. The city donated the alley to the county to allow for the property set backs required at the new Solid Waste Facility located on the property.

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