Commissioners Address Office Moves, Insurance, Parking And Other Issues

Last updated on Wednesday, December 16, 2015

(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Child Support office is relocating to the former Subway building on the south side of the square. The Prosecutor’s office will be moving into the former Child Support office.

The offices are moving because of moisture issue, which has caused mold.

Commissioner President Chris May says once the offices are relocated maintenance will go in and assess the damages.

"Crews will remove the drywall to attempt to see if we can resolve the issue or not and then we will go from there," May added.

In other business:

The county will pay more for insurance in the new year.

According to Miles Parker of Parker Group Insurance, the county will pay $446,512 for insurance. Workman's compensation coverage increased by $30,232 because of two large claims in 2015. One was for $186,000 and another for $47,000.

Another cause for the increase was because of liability losses. Those two cases total more than $524,500.

The $2.6 million courthouse improvements also caused an increase in insurance coverage.

Chris Walls, owner of 39 Degrees North, presented the commissioners with the GIS annual report. The program allows individuals to identify a property by its parcel ID number, owner name, neighborhood, property classification, legal description, property address and other information.

Beginning January 1 the system will be revamped with new software which will enhance the users experience and improve searching abilities. The program will also have a new name - Elevate.

Also coming in the Spring of 2016 the program will include aerial photographs.

Visits to 39 Degrees increased by 3 percent in 2015. There were 115,000 visit in 2015 compared to last year's number of 112,000. Mobile users also increased from 11,680 in 2014 to 12,000 in 2015.

Lawrence County Highway Superintendent David Holmes reported that crews are preparing equipment for winter weather. They have also been cutting brush and replacing culverts for spring paving.

Holmes also reported on possible striping of Tunnelton Road. That will not be done until spring.

"The company that does it is really busy," Holmes added. "But there still may be a chance they will be able to get to it but I wouldn't count on it."

On Monday Holmes will meet with bridge inspectors to review their findings.

"Hopefully we will be able to come up with a plan for bridge improvements and replacements," he added.

Sheriff Mike Branham reported there were 114 inmates at the Lawrence County Jail. Of those 28 are women and 1 was a Department of Corrections.

Branham reported the fence at the old community complex building on Sandpit Road will be up before the first of the year.

Improvements are also coming to the jail. Branham says he has enough money in his budget to update the indoor recreation area and to do improvements to the dormitory areas.

"The improvements will allow us to house the females in the lower level of the jail helping us solve the housing issues when the female population increases," he added.

Lawrence County Veterans Affairs Officer Brad Bough presented Evan Smith of the USDA. Smith informed the commissioners there are several programs that can provide funds to help veterans improve their forests, crop lands, farming or cattle operations. Veterans wanting more information can visit with Smith at the USDA office located behind Lowe's in Bedford.

Sherry Lawson of the Lawrence County Health Department presented to contracts for new hires.

The first was for a registered nurse to replace a nurse that moved from the area. The second was to hire Allison Moore to head emergency management.

The commissioners also approved appointments to the board of health. New to the board will be Steve Anderson. He will serve along with Dr. Allen Smith, Dr. James Mount and Dr. George Sorrells.

Kenna Hodges addressed the commissioners about the parking situation at the courthouse. Chris May told the group of courthouse employees that the commissioners requested they take the issue up with the elected official in their respective offices to come up with a solution to the parking situation.

"I do believe a compromise can be reached between employees, business owners and the public," May added.

May also reminded employees that courthouse parking will be a problem in April when crews replace the perimeter sidewalks around the courthouse.

Hodges says she had worked at the courthouse for more than 25 years and says employees should have designated places to park. She also says if employees in the Courthouse can't park close to their offices, that should also apply for employees at the Courthouse Plaza and all elected officials.

May agreed that all employees needed to find a solution.

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