Lawrence County, TN

FY2010 JAG Local Solicitation Grant Review Narrative

Lawrence County’s FY2010 JAG Local Solicitation Grant application was made available for review by the governing body of the County on June 11, 2010. An opportunity to comment was provided to citizen and organizations. The following public notice was posted on the County website:

The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is seeking applications for funding under the Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the landmark American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “Recovery Act”). The Recovery Act provides the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) with funding for grants to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement (including support for hiring), to combat violence against women, to fight internet crimes against children, to improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, to assist victims of crime, and to support youth mentoring.

Under this program, Lawrence County is eligible to receive an additional $12,759 in grant funds. Lawrence County has applied for the max amount above to purchase additional patrol cars. Lawrence County’s application for funds listed above is available for review in the Office of Accounts and Budgets at 219 Centennial Blvd, Lawrenceburg, TN. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Written comments should be sent by July 1, 2010 to:

Office of Accounts and Budgets

Attn: FY2010 JAG LS Comments

219 Centennial Blvd.

Lawrenceburg, TN 38464

Community clubs and their supporters helped make sure springtime was a clean time in Lawrence County, collecting more than 13,000 pounds of trash, during the first county-wide litter pickup effort of 2010.

The clubs collected litter as part of a contest funded by the Litter Grant Program of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. The effort coincided with the Great American Cleanup campaign, which is held across the nation each spring.

During the contest period, community clubs and their friends delivered 13,210 pounds of litter to the Lawrence County Solid Waste Transfer Station.

West End Community Club collected 6,660 pounds of litter, winning the first place prize of $250. New Prospect won second place and $200 by collecting 2,080 pounds of litter. Copperas Branch Community Club collected 1,340 pounds of litter, winning the third place prize of $150. Winning fourth place and $100 was West Point Community Club, whose supporters collected 1,180 pounds of litter.

Henryville, Gandy, Center Point, Mars Hill, Crawfish Valley and Southeast Lawrence clubs will all receive $50 cash awards for participating in the litter cleanup campaign. Together, those clubs collected 1,950 pounds of litter.

Lawrence County Government thanks all those who participated in the latest litter campaign for helping Keep Lawrence County Clean. Community clubs and their supporters are encouraged to watch for dates and information about the fall litter contest.

United States Representative Lincoln Davis joined local community and business leaders Friday in breaking ground on the site of a new 700,000 gallon water tank which will be constructed in west Lawrence County.

The tank will improve water pressure for customers in the western section of Lawrence County and will also assist with water availability for fire protection in the area.

Funding for the project will include a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission. The tank project is the first grant approved since Lawrence County was admitted to the Appalachian Regional Commission in October of 2008.

Pictured above at Friday’s groundbreaking are (left to right) Daniel Webb, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce; William McClain, Lawrenceburg City Administrator; Chad Chancellor, Executive Director of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce; Lawrenceburg Mayor Keith Durham; County Commissioner Charles Robertson; Jonathan Edwards, Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce representative;  U.S. Representative Lincoln Davis; Jim Looney, Lawrenceburg Utility System; County Executive Paul Rosson, Faye Rodgers, USDA; and Lorie Braly, South Central Tennessee Development District

Early voting for the August 5, 2010 County General Election will take place from Friday, July 16th through Saturday, July 31st at the Lawrence County Election Commission Office located at 225 Centennial Boulevard in Lawrenceburg.

Early voting hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. and on the three Saturdays during the period from 8 a.m. until 12 Noon.

For additional election information, please call the Election Office at 762-7836.

Lawrence County schools and their supporters earned an A+ in the subject of recycling during 2009, keeping thousands of pounds of waste out of landfills.

Lawrence County’s 15 public and private schools and their supporters recycled 711,963 pounds or 356 tons of materials between January and December of 2009.  Those who contributed recyclables to schools helped them to win cash awards under the Recycling Contest, sponsored by the Tennessee Department of Transportation Litter Grant Program.

Ingram Sowell Elementary School claimed the first place prize of $1,200 in the contest by contributing 290,320 pounds of recyclables. Lawrenceburg Sacred Heart took the second place prize of $700 with its total of 58,373 pounds. Loretto Sacred Heart claimed third place with 42,245 pounds, winning $400.  Leoma Elementary took the fourth place prize of $200 by turning in 42,160 pounds of recyclables. In fifth place was South Lawrence Elementary, whose supporters recycled 36,340 pounds of waste in 2009 and helped the school win $100.

All other schools participating in the contest won $50 awards.  New Prospect Elementary contributed 31,660 pounds, Lawrence County High School 31,290 pounds, David Crockett Elementary 29,745 pounds, Summertown Elementary 28,370 pounds, E.O. Coffman Middle School 27,940 pounds, Summertown High School 24,530 pounds, Ethridge Elementary 22,780 pounds, Lawrenceburg Public 21,790 pounds, Loretto High School 19,870 pounds and the Seventh Day Adventist School contributed 4,550 pounds.

County Executive Paul Rosson commended each school and its supporters for another successful recycling effort. “Our schools continue to be a great partner in the recycling program,” Rosson said. “We are so proud of their hard work to lead the way in our recycling efforts.”

To participate in the recycling contest, households are encouraged to place their recyclables in the designated storage buildings located on the campus of each school. Recyclable items include newspaper, plastic items imprinted with numbers 1 and 2, aluminum cans, magazines, newspaper and cardboard.

Lawrence County Executive Paul Rosson expressed gratitude today for the efforts of all agencies involved in the recovery efforts following Friday’s winter storm. 

 The county’s emergency plans went into effect Friday when several inches of ice and snow created hazardous travel conditions, downed trees and power lines and contributed to power outages affecting approximately 2,000 customers across the county.

 Rosson said a number of agencies were involved in the effort to ensure that the impact of the storm was as brief as possible. Crews from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Lawrence County Highway Department and Lawrenceburg and Loretto street departments were among the agencies working to make travel conditions safer.  The Lawrenceburg Utility System were at work throughout the weekend to restore power to affected customers.  Law enforcement agencies across the county helped to ensure motorist safety. The American Red Cross joined with the Summertown Bridle & Saddle Club to open warming centers for those who lost heat during the storm. Personnel from the county’s volunteer fire departments and the Lawrenceburg Fire Department assisted in many aspects of the recovery effort, which was coordinated by the Emergency Management Agency.

 “Our deepest thanks to all those who worked across Lawrence County for many cold hours over the course of the weekend to help our residents recover from this winter storm,” Rosson said.  “Once again, teamwork and cooperation was a key to ensuring safety and security for our citizens during this weather event.”

 Any citizen who still requires assistance in recovering from the winter storm is encouraged to contact the County Executive’s office at 766-4100.

On Tuesday, January 5, the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners elected Bert A. Spearman, Sr. to serve as the County Commissioner representing District 17. The seat recently became vacant with the resignation of Joe Wray due to health reasons. Spearman was sworn into office by County Clerk Chuck Kizer following Tuesday’s election. Spearman, a certified residential real estate appraiser, said he was honored to have been elected to the office. “I commend Commissioner Wray for his years of service to the citizens of the 17^th District,” Spearman said. “I look forward to working with the rest of the county commission as I represent the 17^th District.”

Lawrence County Assigned A+ Bond Rating

Lawrence County has been assigned an A+ bond rating by Standard & Poor’s Rating Services following a recent review.

Standard & Poor’s Rating Services assigned the long-term rating to the series 2010 general obligation school refunding and improvement bonds approved by the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners in November.  Standard & Poor’s said the county’s outlook is stable.

The previous rating was Baa1. The upgrade represents a favorable change of two levels. This is the first time Lawrence County has received an A+ rating.

Proceeds of the bond will be used to refund previously issued obligations and to finance improvements to the county’s school facilities.  

Improvements will be made to expand facilities at Ethridge, South Lawrence, and Summertown elementary schools under a cost-sharing partnership between the county and the school system.  

Financial advisors estimate the county will save approximately $462,000 through the refinancing move.

According to County Executive Paul Rosson, this upgraded bond rating is a result of due diligence on the part of the county commission in conjunction with the administration. “Together, we have dealt with many long-standing hurdles,” Rosson said. “I commend the commission and our office of accounts & budgets for keeping an eye upon the future.”