(BEDFORD) – The Lawrence County Commissioners agreed Tuesday morning to be the lead applicant on a grant to fund a new wastewater plant in the Judah area.
Michelle Carrico from the Southern Indiana Development Commission along with the South Central Regional Sewer Board and representatives of Bynum Fanyo Utilities Inc. discussed plans with the commissioners.
The current wastewater treatment plant was built in the mid to late 1970s and serves 117 residents and area businesses in the Briarwood and Judah area. Officials say that this utility service needs to be updated.
SIDC will apply for a $700,000 grant through the Office of Community and Rural Affairs with Bynum Fanyo Utilities supplying the match.
“The project will not cost the county any money,” said Commissioner Rodney Fish. “Lawrence County will just serve as the conduit. There is a lot of potential for growth in this area.”
In other business
Joe Timbrook with the Lawrence County Growth Council presented the commissioners a Strategic Plan for the North Lawrence Career Center.
The goal of the Lawrence County Growth Council Workforce Coalition is to increase the number of workers qualified to fill employment positions by adopting an industry-driven approach that aligns workforce needs with education and training offerings:
- Prepare all students for careers while in high school.
- Increase postsecondary attainment
- Increase adult education training programs, certifications, and employment.
The North Lawrence Career Center Strategic Plan will be presented to the school board on Thursday.
The Strategic Plan has five goals:
- Students – to raise student awareness, motivation, and readiness for careers in the North Lawrence Career & Technical Education District, the Southern Indiana Region and the State.
- Teachers – to support career readiness and Career & Technical Education courses by increasing the number of qualified, Career & Technical Education instructors and developing all teachers’ awareness.
- Schools & School Programs – to expand the quality of Career & Technical Education programs to meet industry standards and local employer needs.
- Employers – to align all North Lawrence Career Center programs to key current and future employer needs
- Community – to increase parent and community awareness of the value of Career & Technical Education and the array of high-wage, in-demand career opportunities available to students at all education levels.
The commissioners signed a deed for a right of way to Brad Hawkins.
The commissioners passed an ordinance to raise the mileage rate from 42 cents a mile to 50 cents and to raise the daily per diem rate to $40 a day.
Tonya Chastain from the Tourism Commission was granted permission to use the Williams Covered Bridge on September 12th from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. for the Third Annual Williams Covered Bridge Dinner. Last year 325 people attended the event.
Lawrence County Highway Director David Holmes reported highway crews are working on cutting brush, repairing or replacing culverts and doing cold patching.
The county also received federal aid to replace street signs in District 3 with the latest federal retro-reflectivity standards set by the Federal Highway Administration to improve traffic safety. The signs will go up next year.
Bids for paving projects are due by March 17th.
Work on Bridge 121 over Indian Creek in Silverville and Bridge 150 on Mill Creek Road are on schedule.
Lawrence County Sheriff Mike Branham reported there were 163 inmates in the Lawrence County Jail as of Tuesday morning. Of those 124 were males, 39 were females, seven were Level 6 offenders and one was a parole hold. There were no Department of Community Correction holds.
The department purchased a used truck to replace a vehicle that caught fire earlier in the year and is looking for a second vehicle to replace one that was totaled in an accident.
Sheriff Branham says officers will be conducting a traffic study on Old State Road 37 North. The study will allow officials to determine how many speed limit signs will be needed to place on the newly paved road.
Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer reported that she met with officials at Crossroads Church to help do strategic emergency management planning for future events to be held at the church. Any organization that would like help with planning special events can contact Luchauer for assistance.
