Lawrence County commissioners approve contracts for child placement, VR training and courthouse repairs; accept small health grant

Lawrence County commissioners on Feb. 10 approved a package of resolutions that county officials said are intended to address immediate child-placement needs, staff training and several courthouse capital repairs.

Donald Andrews, director of Lawrence County Children & Youth Services, told the board the county has been unable to place one child through its usual contractors and recommended a new contract with New Life Adolescent facility in Marion Center (Indiana County). "They did agree to take this child as long as we could secure a contract," Andrews said. Commissioners voted to approve the contract (Resolution 13).

Andrews also presented a memorandum of understanding (Resolution 14) with the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators to provide county staff access to an Accenture virtual-reality training program. Andrews said the arrangement would provide year-round virtual training and that the county would receive two VR headsets for the office. The total program cost was described as not to exceed $6,772, with the county responsible for 20 percent of that amount. Commissioners approved the MOU after discussion about virtual access and potential cost savings from more frequent training.

Rebecca Schaeffer of the county planning department asked the board to authorize advertisement of a Request for Proposals to update Lawrence County’s comprehensive plan, a decennial requirement. The board acknowledged a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to assist with the update; the RFP advertisement was scheduled to run on Feb. 13 and proposals are due by 3:00 p.m. on March 23, 2026. The board approved the advertisement as Resolution 15.

County Administrator Joe Venasco explained two linked resolutions (16 and 17) selecting The Efficiency Network (TEM), based in Allegheny County, to oversee several courthouse campus capital projects. Venasco described three priority projects: replacing the Government Center Building roof, converting lighting to LED to reduce operating costs, and replacing a nonfunctional generator at the old courthouse that currently affects elevator operation and emergency systems. He said the county issued an RFQ in September 2025 and The Efficiency Network was the respondent chosen to proceed. The board approved both contracts.

The commissioners also approved a budget amendment (Resolution 18) to record receipt of $4,269 in grant funding from a County Commissioners Association-administered health grant to add bottle dispensers to courthouse water fountains. Venasco said the county will install one dispenser per floor where feasible and apply the grant funds to the maintenance minor equipment account.

Voter Services requested a $1,200 intra-departmental transfer from contingency to training for poll-worker instruction; commissioners approved the transfer. The board accepted the warrant registers and approved minutes for the Feb. 3 meeting by roll call earlier in the session.

The board noted several calendar items: a quarterly county retirement board meeting to follow the session, the Lawrence County Planning Commission meets Feb. 11 at noon at the Slippery Rock Township Municipal Building, the courthouse will be closed Feb. 16 for Presidents' Day, and the commissioners agreed to begin the Feb. 17 meeting at 9:00 a.m. rather than 10:00 a.m.

The meeting record shows votes on each listed resolution were taken by roll call and recorded as approved.