Using local services provides local benefits

On Monday, June 30, Commissioners approved Lawrence County’s budget for 2025-26. I am proud of all it provides our citizens, and the healthy fund balance it preserves. It was approved before the state deadline and allowed us to start our new fiscal year with a new budget.
I often use this space to talk about spending: the need for additional services, raises, new vehicles and equipment. Thanks to Lawrence County’s IT Department, today I can talk about saving money.
Steve Walker and Kyle Johnson do good work and lots of it. Their jobs make them responsible for our computers, printers, servers, security cameras, telephones, and everything that makes those systems work.
Reliable, fast internet service is vital to the work we do. Recently, a state-operated system our County Clerk and Register of Deeds offices use was down and all work had to stop in those offices. Unfortunately, our IT Department can’t work on that system so we had to wait for state IT employees to make repairs. We apologize to those of you inconvenienced by that problem.
Ever since county government got internet service, we’ve been using national/regional providers I will not name. Service was decent and fairly reliable. Last month, Steve and Kyle switched county offices over to local providers Cloud 9 and Loretto Telecom, with incredible results: internet speed is 400% faster, and the service costs 90% less.
Loretto Telecom and Cloud 9 are extending gigabyte-speed fiber to many areas of Lawrence County that do not have broadband service, and they offer another option for many who already have internet access. Their service is not available everywhere, though, so that’s why two of our 18 facilities (Veterans Service and Solid Waste offices) still rely on other carriers.
I appreciate our IT Department’s skills and all they do to keep county business running smoothly. Steve, Kyle, and every other county employee play an important role in the services we provide you.