Money spent wisely creates positive change 

County Commissioners made decisions at their January 28 meeting that will provide better emergency medical response, promote economic development in south Lawrence County, and help us continue benefitting from the experience of seasoned first responders. 
Thanks to a great mid-year revenue report, Commissioners agreed to hire six Emergency Medical Service employees to man a new, fully-equipped ambulance that will operate 24 hours a day. This brings the number of ambulances on the road to five, just over the one-per-10,000-residents standard that was probably developed for areas smaller than Lawrence County. 
Lawrence County increased its ambulances from three to four in 2012. Our population has increased since then by about 5,000 and EMS call volume by 28%. Our ambulance service had to request help from Wayne and/or Giles County’s EMS 37 times from September through December, 2024. 
With interest income coming in higher than expected, the Commission also voted to make a one-time $100,000 contribution to the City of Loretto to upgrade its sewer plant for expansion in its industrial park. Industries looking to move into an area want “shovel-ready” properties where utilities are in place for their projects.  
Lawrence County’s investments in industrial property north of Lawrenceburg have made a significant impact on our economy. Commissioners felt it was a good time to help our partners in Loretto, who recently donated two acres for construction of the county’s first convenience center. 
Lawrence County Volunteer Fire Director Tyler McDow, Lawrenceburg Fire Chief Jay Moore, and Emergency Management Agency Director Shelton Barnett were approved as members of the Commission’s Emergency Services Committee. I started that committee to bring the Commission and emergency services professionals to the table to make common-sense recommendations to the Commission on how to improve emergency services. It’s our largest committee, with myself and four Commissioners serving on it as well.  
The Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Program Grant was introduced in 2023-24 to provide an SRO at every Tennessee K-12 public school. Lawrence County receives $1,050,000 annually - $75,000 per school – through this program, even though we had already funded SROs at all our schools.  
Sheriff John Myers asked to keep the money we had been spending for SROs in his budget so he could provide much-needed raises and slow the turnover rate among deputies and correctional officers. At the time we needed to use a portion of the funds elsewhere, and Myers agreed to wait. 
Since that time we have incrementally increased the Sheriff’s salary line. On Tuesday night, Commissioners approved a three-percent raise that returns our original SRO expenditure to Myers’ budget. 
With that action, the Department will pay wages that are competitive with the counties and cities around us. Dollars spent on new officers’ uniforms and training won’t go to waste when they leave after a few months for slightly higher pay. Lawrence County residents are served by men and women who have more experience and are more satisfied with their jobs. 
Thanks so much to the Lawrence County Commission for approving all these forward-thinking measures.