County reports refurbished gator in rescue service and plans mobile command center

County maintenance and emergency-management staff told the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on July 22 that a refurbished off-road rescue vehicle and a mobile command center will support multiagency rescue and response operations. A staff member said the county had been "redoing and reworking the gator to use for off-road rescue and recovery," and that the vehicle was returned to service and used twice during its first week back. The staff member credited Mike Foster from Emergency Management and crew members Corey and Nick for the work. The county also said it was preparing to build or outfit a mobile command center that would be available for law enforcement, fire, and other responders. Commissioners and staff discussed possible coordination with countywide fire associations and invited Hamilton Township Fire Chief Kim Doody or other local leaders to provide an update if needed. Separately, commissioners asked for an update on the search-and-rescue team; staff said training was ongoing and the county has been in communication with local units to identify equipment needs. No formal funding decision or procurement for the mobile command center was recorded at the meeting; staff presented the update as a status report and an opportunity to partner with local fire and rescue organizations on equipment and training.