Commissioners Continue Steps To Develop ADA Plan

Last updated on Wednesday, January 28, 2015

(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Commissioners voted Tuesday morning to approve a public notice and a new grievance procedure for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Valerie Luchauer the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator, told the commissioner both are needed to bring the county into compliance and develop and ADA action plan.

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 serves as the local coordinator to address issues.

If the county is not in compliance the county risk losing access to federal funds and can become vulnerable to legal action.

In other business:

The commissioners sang praises to former Veterans Affair Officer Bill Baker. Baker is retiring after more than 20 years with the county.

"We will never be able to repay him for what he has done for this county not only for the veterans by for the Girls and Boys Club," said Commissioner President Chris May. "He is an amazing man."

The commissioners bid Bridge Foreman Larry Hardman farewell. Hardman who has been with the county for more than 28 years and is retiring to take a job in the private sector.

Economic Growth Council Director Gene McCracken presented the Economic Growth Council's yearly review.

David Holmes of the highway department told the commissioners crews are continuing to cold patch, clear brush and install culverts and working on ditches.

He also reported that three bridges in the county have new weight limits: Bridge 46 on Bartlettsville Road was decreased from 15 to 13 tons; Bridge 63 was decreased from 14 to 10 tons and Bridge 89 in Guthrie over Salt Creek which was unposted now has a 11 ton limit.

Sheriff Mike Branham reported there were 115 inmates at the jail, of those 3 were Department of Correction hold and 21 were females.

He also presented the commissary report and asked permission to apply for a credit card to be used to pay for officer training.

Branham says the State Board of Account does not like how the sheriff's department currently pays for training expenses. Currently a check is issued from the commissary account and then reimburse from the training account. Branham says having a department credit card would stop that practice.

Branham also addressed some needed repairs at the jail.

"The front ramp is deteriorating, the 12-year-old cooling tower is rusting out and we are having to replace parts on the fire alarm system, which is becoming difficult because the system is as old as the jail and you can't find the parts," Branham added.

The commissioners requested that Branham get estimates on the cost of those repairs.

Branham also asked the commissioners permission to use the area of the old courthouse annex as a parking lot. Branham says he will pay for new pavement with funds a work release account. He was given permission to begin bidding the project.

Branham is hoping that once that is done, he will be able to host training sessions at the jail, bring in additional income and saving the county money because the trainings would be held locally.

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