Lawrence County commissioners approve permits, transfers and proclamations; move to executive session

Lawrence County Commissioners on Sept. 23 approved a series of routine permits and financial items, adopted proclamations recognizing Adult Literacy Week and Red Ribbon Week, heard youth presentations on prevention activities and moved to an executive session on legal contracts (the vote/outcome for the executive session was not recorded in the provided transcript).

The board unanimously approved the minutes of its Sept. 16 meeting and a floodplain permit submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District. Commissioners also voted to receive and file the county auditor’s certificate that total appropriations do not exceed estimated resources and to sign a letter of intent for the county engineer’s participation in the state disaster relief program.

A motion to approve appropriations and transfers under $75,000 (submitted by County Administrator Dylan Bentley) passed with two votes in favor and one abstention: Commissioner Mike Finley abstained while Commissioners Deanna Holliday and Colton Copley voted yes. The board approved a $5,000 donation to the senior center (the transcript identifies the source as “b 90”; the recording does not specify the donor beyond that phrasing). The commissioners also agreed to sign a contract with an entity transcribed as "Quinta States," pending prosecutor approval; board members noted the contract relates to a petition ditch previously discussed.

The board adopted proclamations naming Sept. 15–19, 2025, as Adult Literacy Week in Lawrence County and Oct. 23–30, 2025, as Red Ribbon Week; the Red Ribbon proclamation also designates October 2025 as Substance Misuse Prevention Month and commits county resources to local prevention education activities. Representatives from Collins Career Center received the Adult Literacy proclamation.

Youth representatives from county Impact Prevention teams and the youth council described school and community activities for Red Ribbon Week, including a youth summit, community beautification projects and in-school programming for younger students. Alex Naugh, a senior at Saint Joe representing the youth council, asked whether the courthouse dome could be lit red for Red Ribbon Week; a commissioner said staff would check the dome lighting and follow up. “We were going to ask if that was a possibility for Lawrence County as well,” Naugh said.

Judge Ballard and others also recognized Naugh’s selection as a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist during the meeting.

Before adjourning for an executive session on legal contracts (with County Administrator Dylan Bentley and Rick Ganson), the board made routine announcements about an Oct. 13 levy town hall at the Upper Township Fire Department at 6 p.m. and thanked volunteers for a recent special‑needs event.

Votes at a glance: minutes (approved 3–0); floodplain permit (approved 3–0); appropriations/transfers under $75,000 (approved 2–0–1, Finley abstained); county auditor certificate (approved 3–0); letter of intent for disaster relief (approved 3–0); $5,000 senior‑center donation (approved 3–0); Quinta States contract pending prosecutor approval (approved 3–0); Adult Literacy Week proclamation (approved 3–0); Red Ribbon Week / Substance Misuse Prevention Month proclamations (approved 3–0). The meeting transcript shows a motion to enter executive session; the transcript excerpt does not include the vote or final disposition of that motion.

The commissioners present were Commissioner Colton Copley, Commissioner Deanna Holliday and Commissioner Mike Finley. County staff referenced in motions include County Administrator Dylan Bentley and Clerk of Courts Mike Patterson, who requested the senior-center donation.

The board scheduled no public vote on any ordinance or long-term financial commitment during the portion of the meeting captured in the transcript. The transcript does not contain complete documentary details for the items labeled by shorthand (for example, the donation source is transcribed as “b 90” and the contract party is transcribed as “Quinta States”); those elements are recorded here as transcribed and marked as not specified where necessary.