On Thursday, June 26th, the Board of Mayor and City Council in Lawrenceburg reached a unanimous decision to approve a series of amended ordinances and resolutions. Among the significant actions taken was the authorization for the Lawrenceburg Fire Department to pursue two grants under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which is administered by the Department of Homeland Security. The first grant, if secured, would facilitate the hiring of six full-time firefighters over a three-year span, with the grant funding a substantial portion of their salaries and benefits. The second grant aims to recruit and support fifteen volunteer firefighters over a four-year timeframe, which would incur no financial burden on the city.
In a separate but equally important decision, the Board granted City Administrator Dick McKinley the authority to negotiate an agreement with Lawrence County for animal shelter services. McKinley highlighted that Lawrence County possesses the necessary resources and expertise to manage shelter operations more effectively, particularly given that a significant number of stray animals originate from county areas. A notable benefit of this arrangement is the involvement of trustees supervised by the Sheriff’s Department, who would assist with various shelter tasks.
Under the proposed agreement, Lawrence County would take on the responsibility for the daily management of the animal shelter and cover operational costs. Meanwhile, the city would collaborate with the county by sharing a portion of these expenses. McKinley underscored that the county’s established infrastructure and resources position it as the more capable entity to oversee the shelter’s operations efficiently. For those interested in viewing the complete meeting, it is available on the WLX Facebook Page.