Lawrence County commissioners approve routine permits and hires, proclaim Small Business Week and name civic scholar recipients

The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners met on April 28, 2026, and unanimously approved a slate of routine items including floodplain permits from the Soil and Water Conservation District, appropriations and transfers under $75,000, personnel hires, and intergovernmental agreements. The board also proclaimed May 2026 as Small Business Week in Lawrence County and recognized the 2026 Civic Scholar Fellowship recipients before adjourning to a fellowship ceremony.

The meeting opened with roll call and a brief invocation led by a student; President Deanna Holliday read a proclamation declaring May 2026 Small Business Week in Lawrence County and praised local business supports. “Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy, driving innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening communities,” Holliday said while reading the proclamation, which acknowledged the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce for local support.

On routine business the commission approved the minutes from the April 21, 2026 meeting and a package of floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District. County Administrator Dylan Bentley submitted a list of appropriations and transfers dated April 28, 2026, for amounts under $75,000; the commission approved those transfers by roll call.

Personnel actions approved included the hiring of Devin Forbush as a CPS SSW (pending BCI, FBI and local background checks) and the appointment of Joshua Jackson as a part-time EMT. The commission also approved appointments of Josh Adams and Lindy Murray to the local emergency planning committee.

Intergovernmental cooperation was addressed when commissioners authorized a mutual aid agreement with Boyd County, Kentucky Emergency Management Agency, subject to the county prosecutor’s review.

The board also moved to approve and sign a letter of support for the Soil and Water Conservation District and to pay the county’s 2026 annual contribution to the Buckeye Joint County Insurance Council; both actions passed by unanimous roll call.

In recognition items, the commission proclaimed Isaiah Furr, Haven Noel, Addison Copley, Jack Lambert, Isaiah Sowell, Annie Chin, Mitchell Dunlap and Connor Goff as 2026 Lawrence County Civic Scholar Fellowship recipients. County Administrator Dylan Bentley described the fellowship’s mission as building civic education and mentoring opportunities for youth: “the commission continually seeks opportunities to prepare our youth to become better citizens of their communities,” he said.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes (04/21/2026): Approved. Roll call: Commissioner Finley — yes; Commissioner Holiday — yes; Commissioner Copley — yes. - Floodplain permits (Soil and Water Conservation District): Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Appropriations/transfers (04/28/2026) under $75,000 (submitted by County Administrator Dylan Bentley): Approved. Roll call unanimous. - 2026 contribution to Buckeye Joint County Insurance Council: Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Hire Devin Forbush as CPS SSW (pending BCI/FBI/local checks): Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Mutual aid agreement with Boyd County, KY EMA (pending prosecutor approval): Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Appoint Josh Adams and Lindy Murray to local emergency planning committee: Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Personnel change: Hire Joshua Jackson, part-time EMT: Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Letter of support for Soil and Water Conservation District: Approved. Roll call unanimous. - Proclaim May 2026 Small Business Week: Proclamation adopted and signed. - Proclaim 2026 Civic Scholar Fellowship recipients: Proclamation adopted and recipients recognized.

The commissioners completed the formal business agenda and adjourned the meeting to begin the civic scholar ceremony. The ceremony opened with brief remarks and introductions; County Administrator Dylan Bentley provided event logistics and introduced participants. The meeting record shows no contested votes or substantive debate on the items listed.