Holt honored as part of Feb. 17 Commission meeting

Commissioners addressed a short agenda last Tuesday night that was long on purpose and impact.
The Commission’s first action named new courtroom and judicial office space in the Lawrence County Courthouse the “Charles W. ‘Charlie’ Holt, Jr. Judicial Annex.” It’s a fitting memorial to our longtime friend and County Attorney, who passed away December 10, 2025.
I am so grateful to have spent time with Charlie, whose life was a demonstration of quiet wisdom, compassion, integrity, and humor. The institution of Lawrence County Government, and the individuals who have been part of it, are all better for having known him.
Commissioners unanimously elected Ryan Durham as our new County Attorney. Ryan and Charlie were partners in the same firm, and worked together on county business in the weeks before Charlie’s passing. Like Charlie, Ryan’s combination of character and intelligence make him perfect for the role.
We recognized the accomplishments of Beta Club students at David Crockett and Lawrenceburg Public Elementary, who won first place in statewide Performing Arts and Math competitions, respectively, for two years straight. Crockett students also brought home first place in Living Literature and Marketing & Communications contests.
David Crockett students honored were Kaylee Caperton, Holly Shults, Rayna Hughes, Sadie Green, Katie Lee, Briley Lopp, Will Burks, Avery White, Colt Giles, Aubrey Brooks, Emerson Kilburn, Ivey McDonald, Maverick Ramirez, Luci Long, Grey Boswell, Evie Brewer, Wyatt Hoyal, Charlee Hairrell, Cypress Rose, Myra Roberson, Ella Haun, Hannah Gallian, Lorelei Harris, and Elijah Magee. Eden Morgan of LPS won the state Beta Club math competition in her age group for the second year.
LCHS football team captain and MVP Tayden Russell was honored for athletic achievement that’s been recognized on the local, regional, and state level. Tayden will continue his athletic and academic career at Lindsey Wilson College this fall.
Commissioners later confirmed the addition of Misti Baker to our Budget Office team. Misti will be our new Purchasing Agent, overseeing the acquisition of all goods, materials, equipment, and services for Lawrence County Government. It’s a big job but she brings great experience to it, after working at the South Central Tennessee Development District with 13 counties in our region.
Commissioners approved a few spending items: push-button entries for the Courthouse and Administrative Center; conversion of a part-time housekeeping position to full-time; and $12,000 for water line extensions to four households on Fairview Road. The Commission voted several years ago to give $3,000 in assistance to each household added to a rural utility district water line. The homeowner still bears the majority of the expense, but we are glad to help residents get water that is reliable in service and sanitation.
Also approved was a change in juror compensation, from $10 per day plus mileage, to a flat $12 a day. This will be far less complicated for those who serve on juries and for us.
The annual official road list for Lawrence County was also approved. It always includes a few new roads, which have been brought up to standards for adoption established by our Highway Department. Those standards address things like the materials used to build the road, the width of the road, and space alongside it for right-of-way.
Let me add to this a word of caution to developers and people buying homes in new developments. If roads are not built with an eye to eventual adoption by the county, residents of subdivisions may be left responsible for roads that won’t be taken care of in years to come. This is not true in many developments, but it has happened.
In their February 17 meeting, Commissioners also:
- Amended an earlier resolution for the purchase of land on the east side of the Lawrence County Public Library. The deed should reflect its joint ownership by the City of Lawrenceburg and Lawrence County.
- Declared outdated equipment at Solid Waste as surplus property.
- Approved a four-year cycle of property reappraisal.
- Approved the appointment of Barry Luffman to the County Agricultural Extension Service Ag Committee and Scott Franks to the Tennessee Southern Railroad Authority.
- Requested that the state approve naming a bridge on Buffalo Road (at the intersection of Flatwoods and South Park Grove Roads) in honor of the late Johnny R. Thompson.
This meeting was originally scheduled for January 27, but cancelled due to icy weather. That means the next regular meeting is coming up a little sooner than usual – March 24, 5 p.m., in Courtroom A, Lawrence County Courthouse. The public is welcome to attend this meeting, and Committee meetings where resolutions are discussed in-depth.