Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Administration And Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lawrence County commissioners set 2026 calendar, adopt 2025 budget and approve personnel, contracts and appointments
Summary
At the Jan. 12 organizational meeting the board appointed officer roles, set meeting and work session schedules, adopted the 2025 final budget, approved multiple appropriations and contracts, and voted to enter executive session on real estate.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners used its Jan. 12 organizational meeting to complete routine organizational business and approve multiple administrative items. The board appointed Deanna Holiday as 2026 commission president and Cole Copley as vice president, set regular business meetings for Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m., and scheduled work sessions on Thursdays at 10:10 a.m. with an additional Tuesday work session of 8:00–10:00 a.m.
On financial matters the board received and filed a certificate from the county auditor stating total appropriations do not exceed official estimated resources; it approved appropriations and transfers dated Jan. 12 under $75,000. The commissioners received and filed 2025 year-end transfers and appropriations, and they approved and adopted the 2025 final budget as submitted by Parker Rowe, director of finance. During appropriation-deduction votes the record shows two negative adjustments: one for -$77,937.87 and another for -$303,889.58; one commissioner recorded an abstention on a specific motion.
The board approved a consulting services agreement with the Perry County Auditor's office to reimburse part of Chris Kleiner’s salary when he assists counties with inexperienced auditors. They also approved motions to respond to liquor permit requests for Speedway LLC (County Road 410 Southpoint) and Lawrence Cashtop Inc. (State Route 7, Chesapeake), and they accepted a $2,466 donation of a freezer to remain at the senior center.
Personnel and program items included approval of the hire of Matthew Hurst as a CPS investigator; authorization of Missy Evans as signing designee for intercounty allocation adjustments for 2026; approval of LCDJFS child support enforcement Title IVD contracts pending prosecutor approval; and appointment of Kevin Turvey as the 2026 APRA inspector with an annual reimbursement rate of $2,000 plus mileage. Commissioners also accepted rural water board resignations and appointed Michelle Labryn and Cecil Mays to replace outgoing members, and appointed Diana Holiday as the board representative to the Lawrence County Board of Revisions.
Finally, the board voted to meet in executive session with County Administrator Dylan Bentley and Corey Watson to discuss real estate, after which they left the livestream.
Votes at a glance: Deanna Holiday — appointed president (motion approved by roll call); Cole Copley — appointed vice president (approved by roll call); 2025 final budget — adopted (approved); consulting agreement with Perry County Auditor — approved; donation of $2,466 to senior center — approved; Kevin Turvey — approved as APRA inspector at $2,000/year; motion to enter executive session on real estate — approved. Several other routine items (flood-plain permits, LCDJFS report, liquor permit responses, personnel hire) were approved by roll call; one abstention recorded on an appropriation item.
