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Lawrence County commissioners approve tax-software contract, CDBG change and multiple service renewals
Summary
On April 28 the board approved a contract to move tax billing to Government Software Services, a CDBG shift for Elwood borough ADA ramps, four children-and-youth contract renewals, a $500 911 donation amendment and several budget transfers; a proposed bank "positive pay" program was deferred to May 5.
The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine contract, budget and grant-related actions at its April 28 meeting, including a new tax-billing contract and several service renewals.
The board voted to approve Resolution 72 allowing the county to contract with Government Software Services (GSS) for tax billing and related services after the treasurer’s office said the county’s current vendor will end service on Jan. 1, 2027. Angela Baliscoco of the treasurer’s office told commissioners the county and Tax Claim can align on the same vendor to ease transition planning; the treasurer’s office said the solicitor reviewed contract terms. Commissioners approved the resolution by roll call (Commissioner Sado: yes; Commissioner Vogler: yes).
The board also approved Resolution 73, a revision to an existing Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) contract for Elwood borough that moves funds into curb-ramp construction to address a sidewalk-width discrepancy. The transcript records the dollar amount as "$2,56953" in the staff description; borough officials were said to support the change. Commissioners approved the revision by roll call.
Children and Youth Services presented four contract renewals (Resolutions 74–77) for residential or backup placement providers: Alternative Living Solutions, Hoffman Homes, Keystone Adolescent Center and Citymission Livingstones. The director said the providers are largely backup placements and some requested modest rate increases (noted in the meeting as roughly 9–12% for some providers); all were described as remaining under county per-diem caps. The board approved the four renewals together.
Budget actions approved included Resolution 78, a $500 amendment to add a donation from Dell's Garage to 911 revenue and expense lines to support dispatcher appreciation; and Resolution 79, a $16,000 transfer from the commissioners' contingency to the treasurer's contracted-services line to support the GSS implementation. The jail also received approval for a $795 intra-departmental transfer from medical expenses to minor office supplies. All motions passed by roll call with the two attending commissioners (Sado and Vogler) voting yes.
A proposed contract with a bank for a positive-pay program designed to reduce check reissue charges was discussed; the bank asked for a week to provide additional information, and commissioners deferred action until the May 5 meeting. Staff estimated the positive-pay monthly fee at $95 versus per-check reissue costs of about $30–$35.
The meeting record shows multiple items were carried by roll call with only two commissioners present; the board noted that two commissioners constitute a forum for conducting routine business in this session. No contested votes or formal oppositions were recorded in the minutes for the items approved on April 28.
