Apr. 7—On Tuesday, the Lawrence County Commissioners were updated on several projects being done by the Lawrence Soil and Water Conservation District.
One project was payments from federal and state programs to farmers affected by the drought in 2024.
The district’s staff contacted 100 percent of qualifying landowners and signed the final contracts last month.
“We had 15 days to get those done, we got them done in 13 days,” said Peggy Reynolds, with the Soil and Water Conservation District, of the state program.
$69,886 was paid out to 68 landowners from the state program. Between the two programs, the county producers got $330,000 in drought payments.
The district is also promoting three programs. There is a new Cost Share Program for Crop Disaster, an Emergency Loan Program and Program H2O, with the theme is “Soil Fertility and Manure Management.” Further details on the programs will be available soon.
The district has an intern this year. Molly Dunlap, of Fairland High School, is part of the county’s Civic Scholars program and has spent a couple weeks working at the agency.
“We got to get her out into the field and she loved that,” said Peggy Reynolds, with the Soil and Water Conservation District. “She is really good. She is working on some brochures for us. So that will really help us.”
Jim Kratzenberg was at the meeting to follow up with the commissioners as to whether debt liabilities are considered assets. In February, the local businessman expressed his displeasure at not being able to buy $5 million in negotiated property tax liens from the county treasurer and that, in his opinion, was illegal.
He said those outstanding liens should be considered a county asset and as such were subject to Ohio law, which county treasurer Tressa Baker contradicted.
The liens went to NAR Solutions and Kratzenberg said he spoke to Baker and asked for it to be bid on again “which seems fair because I have employees in the county, I have lawyers in the county. This company from Nebraska doesn’t do anything for Lawrence County, nothing whatsoever.”
The commissioners sent the issue to their legal counsel, Brigham Anderson, who made a determination. A copy of that will be sent to Kratzenberg.
“I’ve requested a meeting with Baker and our schedules haven’t paired up yet,” said Commissioner Colton Copley.
Commissioner Mike Finley said there is going to be a Gun Bash at the Open Door School, starting at 5 p.m. today to raise money for the school.
“Everybody is invited, it is a good time. We have good food,” he said. “This is one of our fundraisers for the year. Instead of standing and begging on the corner, we would rather work and make our own money.”
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—Approved the following floodplain permits submitted by the Soil and Water Conservation District — New: Michelle Herrell-Stream maintenance project, located at the property adjacent to 4833 State Route 378; Charles R. Wiseman-Stream maintenance project located at 465 County Road 49. Renewal: Alan Runyon-Stream maintenance project located at 232 Private Road 4180; and Danny Fry-Dirt bike track for personal use project located beside 3580 County Road 52,
—Approved the following appropriations and transfers dated April 1, 2025, under $75,000, submitted by acting administrator Dylan Bentley.
—Received and filed the DJFS monthly report ending February 2025, submitted by Missy Evans, DJFS director.
To re-appoint Missy Evans for an additional 2-year term to the Lawrence County Prevention Council beginning April 4, 2025, submitted by Ashley Karimi, Southeast Regional Child Abuse Prevention Project coordinator.
—Approved the new hire of Emily Trout as part-time advanced EMT, effective April 3, 2025.
—Received and referred the liquor permit for Bennington Properties LLC DBA Ironton Country Club Pool Pavilion to the Elizabeth Township Trustees for approval.
—Appointed Rich Donahue as the chairman of the county’s America 250 committee and celebration.” The commissioners meet a 10 a.m. on Tuesdays on the third floor of the Lawrence County Courthouse.