During its Oct. 21 meeting the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners approved several routine contracts and budget items including a renewal purchase-of-service agreement with Diakon Child, Family and Community Ministries, a technical correction to opioid-advisory board awards, and a permissive absence day for employees who donate to United Way.

Donald Andrews, representing Children and Youth Services, told the board the Diakon agreement is a renewal and that the county currently has no children placed there but maintains the contract as a "rainy day" resource. Andrews said daily rates vary and that approximately 20% of costs are borne by the county with the state covering the remaining 80% through Act 148 funding for adoption and related services.

The board also approved a correction to a prior opioid advisory-board resolution (Resolution No. 353 in the current agenda) that substituted Vision Ministries — for $78,500 — in a list of recommended grantees and confirmed funding for previously discussed programs (including local DUI and recovery programs and safety gear for fire departments). County officials said the correction was needed because an earlier meeting transcript/motion misstated an applicant group.

Separately, commissioners approved Resolution No. 354 to permit county employees (excluding jail staff) to receive one permissive absence day in 2026 if they voluntarily contribute at least $5 per pay period to the United Way of Lawrence County; the resolution says the program is strictly voluntary. The board also approved several budget amendments and transfers, including a $15,000 unanticipated revenue allocation to the district attorney’s overtime line from a seized/forfeited or grant source reported by the DA’s office (Resolution No. 355), a $2,000 juvenile-probation refund applied to uniforms (Resolution No. 356) and transfers of multiple small departmental line items (Resolution No. 357 and others). All motions passed on roll-call or voice votes as recorded.