[0:00] show at 10:00 to go.
[0:02] >> And we got to fix that clock. It's off
[0:04] by a minute. Man, [clears throat]
[0:08] » good morning everyone and welcome. Uh we
[0:11] will call this regular meeting of the
[0:13] Lawrence Board of Commissioners to
[0:15] order. Today is uh Tuesday, January 6 of
[0:20] 2026.
[0:23] An adjustment on our
[0:25] >> agenda.
[0:28] A lot of us are doing that uh this time
[0:31] of year. We always uh start our meeting
[0:34] with the pledge of allegiance. Then if
[0:36] we could remain standing for a moment of
[0:38] silence and Commissioner Kennedy, could
[0:39] you lead us in the pledge?
[0:41] >> I aliance to the flag of the United
[0:44] States of America and to the republic
[0:47] for which it stands. One nation under
[0:50] God, indivisible, liberty and justice
[0:53] for all.
[0:54] >> We'll have a moment of silence, please.
[0:59] Thank you all very much. Uh Vanessa,
[1:02] could you call the role, please?
[1:04] >> Commissioner Sado,
[1:05] >> yes. Here.
[1:06] >> Commissioner Kennedy
[1:07] >> here.
[1:07] >> Commissioner
[1:08] >> here. We have a quorum. Uh
[1:12] ask everybody to put their cell phones
[1:15] on silent if you wouldn't mind. And uh
[1:18] right now we have no members of the
[1:22] public in the audience. for that matter.
[1:24] We we have no audience right now, but if
[1:27] anybody should come in, we'll give uh
[1:29] we'll give opportunities for public
[1:31] comment
[1:33] and should also [clears throat] just for
[1:35] the record note that we're live
[1:36] streaming this meeting and that it's
[1:39] being recorded.
[1:41] Uh we often we always give time for any
[1:45] of our role officers, but none of them
[1:46] are here today and that's all right.
[1:48] They don't have to be. And again at this
[1:51] point we have no members of the public.
[1:54] So we move on to uh fiscal and
[1:56] contractual. We do have a repository uh
[2:01] property that has been submitted to us
[2:03] by the tax claim office. This is a
[2:06] parcel in Palaski Township uh
[2:09] specifically
[2:11] uh 798 Rainer Road. Parcel ID number
[2:16] 29-901065.
[2:22] The uh bidder is Bruce Rener. He made a
[2:28] $500 bid on this parcel
[2:33] and uh
[2:35] the Palaski Township supervisors voted
[2:38] to accept the bid on December 19 of
[2:42] 2025. Also, the uh Wilmington Area
[2:46] School Board voted likewise on December
[2:52] uh 11 of 2025. So, that now leaves it to
[2:55] us. This is resolution one, I assume,
[2:58] >> of 2026.
[3:00] So, I will open it for you gentlemen. Uh
[3:04] if either of you wish to make a motion,
[3:07] >> I'll make a motion. We accept the bid
[3:09] and I'll second it.
[3:10] >> Thank you so much, Chris or Dan. Any
[3:12] concerns or comments? Hearing none,
[3:14] we'll ask Vanessa to call the role.
[3:16] >> Commissioner Senado,
[3:17] >> yes.
[3:18] >> Commissioner Kennedy,
[3:19] >> yes.
[3:19] >> Commissioner Bour,
[3:20] >> yes.
[3:20] >> Motion carries.
[3:21] >> Thank you. Also in our packet, we have
[3:23] the warrant register from uh December 29
[3:27] of 2025. It's also known as the check
[3:30] reconciliation register. It's been
[3:32] submitted to us by the county
[3:33] controllers's office. I'll give my
[3:35] colleagues whatever time they need to
[3:37] look it over. And once you've done so, I would certainly entertain a motion for us to accept uh this document.
[3:56] » I'll make that motion and I'll second
[3:58] the motion.
[3:59] >> Thank you both. Uh any concerns,
[4:01] gentlemen? Hearing none. Vanessa, could
[4:04] you call the role, please? Commissioner
[4:06] Sanado,
[4:07] >> yes.
[4:07] >> Commissioner Kennedy,
[4:08] >> yes.
[4:08] >> Commissioner Bogler,
[4:10] >> yes.
[4:10] >> Motion carries.
[4:11] >> Thank you. Also in our packet, we have
[4:13] the uh minutes of our
[4:16] Tuesday, December 30 uh commissioners
[4:19] meeting. I'll again give my colleagues
[4:22] time to review them and
[4:25] when they've done so, uh would entertain
[4:27] a motion for us to adopt the minutes.
[4:40] I'll make that motion.
[4:41] >> I'll second that motion.
[4:42] >> I thank you both. Any questions or
[4:44] concerns regarding the minutes? Uh if
[4:46] not, we'll ask Vanessa to call the RO,
[4:49] please.
[4:49] >> Commissioner Sotto,
[4:50] >> yes.
[4:51] >> Commissioner Kennedy,
[4:52] >> yes.
[4:52] >> Commissioner Vogore,
[4:53] >> yes.
[4:54] >> Motion carries.
[4:54] >> Thank you. One document, one one piece
[4:57] of written correspondence has come in to
[4:59] us that we'll enter into the record.
[5:01] It's dated December 22 of 2025. It is
[5:05] sent to us by RA
[5:08] Engineering, which is based here in
[5:10] Lawrence County. uh on behalf of Three
[5:14] Rivers Aggregate. This project is uh the
[5:18] Old Ash Mine and they're letting us know
[5:22] that they are submitting uh uh a
[5:26] document to the uh uh Department of
[5:30] Environmental Protection.
[5:33] This is uh for permitting an
[5:36] approximately 126.4 4 acre non-coal sand
[5:41] and gravel surface mine
[5:45] uh on properties in both uh well and
[5:48] here it specifically does say in
[5:50] Lawrence County Plane Grove Township.
[5:53] [laughter]
[5:53] Uh the proposed permit area is located
[5:56] west of West Park Road and north of
[5:59] Corey Road. Again, that's out in Plane
[6:03] Road Township. again they will be
[6:06] applying to the D.
[6:08] The law requires that we be notified of
[6:11] this and uh I would imagine that the
[6:14] township of Plane Grove the supervisors
[6:17] out there have also received this
[6:18] document. Um any concerns or discussion
[6:22] gentlemen?
[6:24] Would one of you wish to make a motion
[6:25] for us to accept this uh correspondence?
[6:28] I'll make a motion we accept the
[6:30] correspondence and I'll second. Thank
[6:32] you both. And if there are no other
[6:34] concerns, we can ask for a roll call.
[6:36] >> Commissioner Sonado,
[6:37] >> yes.
[6:38] >> Commissioner Kennedy,
[6:39] >> yes.
[6:39] >> Commissioner Cogler,
[6:40] >> yes.
[6:40] >> Motion carries.
[6:41] >> Thank you very much.
[6:43] >> Uh reports. Uh Commissioner reports and
[6:46] comments. Mr. Sonata, you're first
[6:48] today.
[6:48] >> Well, I'm just going to uh pass this
[6:51] week chairman. I mean, it's a one that
[6:53] we've had. I haven't been able to attend
[6:55] very much. So looking forward to uh
[6:59] meeting with the commissioners from
[7:00] Mercer County next Tuesday. I know we
[7:03] have our quarterly meeting and as always
[7:06] been helpful to us because I think we
[7:08] have such a good working relationship
[7:10] with the three commissioners from Mercer
[7:12] County and Lawrence and Mercer have a
[7:14] lot of things in common and I know the
[7:16] past two years I think we've had a good
[7:18] working relationship and it's been
[7:20] positive for us. So, that's what I'm
[7:22] looking forward to next Tuesday. And
[7:24] also on Monday, uh we're going to be
[7:26] heading up to the Indiana County uh to
[7:28] meet with the whole region from uh the
[7:31] Northwest sector. Um and I just think
[7:34] that's very helpful to us as well. Uh
[7:36] many of our counties have similar
[7:38] interests and uh it's important we
[7:41] develop those relationships with the commissioners in the Northwest.
[7:45] And we've been very fortunate because as
[7:48] we said many times, Mr. chairman. Uh
[7:50] Morris County has both a northwest
[7:54] [clears throat] and a southwest we're
[7:55] members of and uh we've developed good
[7:58] working relationships. I know you have
[7:59] over the years and uh with your guidance
[8:02] uh you introduced us to some very
[8:04] important people that's been helpful to
[8:06] us in Lawrence County, especially
[8:07] Commissioner Kennedy down in the
[8:09] southwest. He's made many visits uh to
[8:12] deal with economic development. So
[8:15] that's pretty much all I have.
[8:17] >> Thank you, sir. Uh, I'll turn it over to
[8:19] Commissioner Kennedy for
[8:21] >> couple things. One, yesterday was a
[8:23] historic day around here. Um, and we uh
[8:28] I'll start trying to look out. U we we
[8:32] had swearing in of three new judges and
[8:36] our new sheriff in town. So,
[8:39] plus uh the other three that got sworn
[8:42] in again. So, proud of them. Glad they
[8:46] stepped up their plate.
[8:48] We got some good people in the
[8:50] courthouse. It's nice. Uh second thing
[8:53] is you forgot about this one. Next week
[8:55] we get to go to act state.
[8:57] >> That's right.
[8:58] >> Um so uh hopefully we'll get to go down
[9:01] there after they win on Monday night.
[9:04] We'll uh we're going down to talk about
[9:07] the NFL draft 2026. Get some more
[9:10] information on that and what they what
[9:14] help they're going to need from Orange
[9:15] County. I think is one of the topical
[9:17] discussions we're going to hear next
[9:19] week. So I already talked to Vince about
[9:22] that new sheriff and he's well aware
[9:25] they've already
[9:29] that'll be an interesting day for us to
[9:31] see what's going on. Besides that,
[9:33] that's all I have. I'm embarrassed to
[9:36] ask this question, but you two probably
[9:38] know this meeting uh regarding the
[9:42] draft. Is it specifically for county
[9:45] commissioners or have they invited
[9:47] tourism people, economic development
[9:49] people? I can't recall.
[9:51] >> I I thought it was just addressed to us.
[9:54] >> I think it is to us. I know that uh our
[9:57] Lawrence tour is very well aware and are
[10:00] working with them.
[10:01] >> Yeah. I said on that board and I think
[10:05] it's just for us because you know it's
[10:08] the whole region all 10 of us.
[10:09] >> Yeah.
[10:10] >> And uh you know the goal is is
[10:12] Commissioner Kennedy stated, we want to
[10:15] tap into any resources we can here in
[10:17] county. And I know that Janet Jenny has
[10:20] reached out to them as far as any
[10:22] activities in Lawrence County
[10:26] drugs. I mean, because you're talking
[10:28] tens of thousands of people coming in
[10:30] for that event. So, I want you I commend
[10:33] our local tourist promotion agency for
[10:36] being very active, proactive on this
[10:38] issue. And uh you I'm glad that uh Danny
[10:42] talked to our sheriff because that's
[10:44] going to involve uh law law enforcement.
[10:46] It's also going to involve uh you know
[10:49] EMS and everything just because they've
[10:52] given us the guidelines. But you know
[10:54] what? We want to be prepared because
[10:55] hey, Lawrence County is part of that
[10:56] region. You may be farther out, but
[10:59] there are people that don't want to stay
[11:00] right in the city and that's the
[11:02] opportunity we have.
[11:04] >> The big thing is they don't have enough
[11:05] rooms at the city for everybody. So they
[11:07] got to rely on me in all areas. I know
[11:10] Debbie watcher yesterday asked me about
[11:12] it and she said find out if I can go
[11:14] with you guys. So I'm going to reach out
[11:16] and see if she like to do an article on
[11:18] it. What it's going to do to affect us.
[11:21] >> It's good. You're both absolutely right.
[11:24] I I look for our hotels here in the
[11:26] county to be filled. I would imagine.
[11:29] Well, thank you both. Uh, I have just a
[11:32] couple other items to talk about beyond
[11:36] what you gentlemen have brought up. Uh,
[11:39] Dan was absolutely right. Yesterday
[11:43] uh was historic in this county. We've
[11:45] never in the history of Lawrence County
[11:48] had three judges sworn in at one time.
[11:51] For that matter, I don't believe we've
[11:52] ever had two at the same time. So, it
[11:55] was certainly uh historic for the for
[11:58] the county. Um, I will note that uh on a positive note, we've been invited
[12:05] uh this coming Friday to attend a ribbon
[12:08] cutting ceremony at the Wilson Lumber
[12:11] Company out in Machanic Township.
[12:13] They're opening their new facility and I
[12:16] believe they're expanding. Yes.
[12:18] >> Uh which is a good thing. We're real pleased [laughter] about that. And
[12:23] uh as uh was noted by my colleague uh
[12:28] Commissioner
[12:30] Sonata
[12:32] uh next Tuesday, week from today at 1:30
[12:36] we will have the quarterly meeting of
[12:38] the West Central Job Partnership
[12:40] Governing Board and we rotate the board
[12:43] consists of the three of us and the
[12:45] three Mercer County commissioners and we
[12:47] move back and forth. So, next week's
[12:49] meeting, it's our turn to host. And that
[12:52] meeting will be here in this room at
[12:54] 1:30 on the 13th of January, open to the
[12:58] public. And we'll be uh electing a new
[13:02] chair. I believe I've served as chair
[13:04] for the last two years. And we again we
[13:06] rotate that as well. So, one of the
[13:08] Mercer County Commissioners, it will be
[13:10] up to them to determine who will who
[13:13] will now chair that board. Uh final
[13:16] thing that I have is that we were we
[13:19] were advised by the Commonwealth of the
[13:22] uh bid thresholds
[13:24] uh for for public contracts and
[13:27] purchases each year. It changes based
[13:30] upon the consumer price index. So for uh
[13:34] according to the state rules we will
[13:37] adhere to contracts or purchases under
[13:41] 13,200
[13:43] require no formal bidding or price
[13:46] quotations.
[13:48] Contracts or purchases between 13,200
[13:52] and $24,500
[13:55] require three written or andor
[13:58] telephonic price quotes. And then
[14:01] finally, contracts or purchases greater
[14:04] than $24,500
[14:07] require formal bidding and public
[14:09] notice. I and and Dan, help me with I'll
[14:12] give that to you. You probably have it,
[14:14] but
[14:14] >> I do.
[14:16] >> If I'm not mistaken, this applies to
[14:19] counties and burrows, townships, and
[14:21] cities. This would be applicable to our
[14:23] local municipalities. They're in a
[14:25] state.
[14:26] >> Okay. Thank you for confirming that.
[14:30] Alrighty. Well, this is uh this is uh
[14:33] this doesn't happen very often, but as
[14:36] [clears throat] we sit here today at
[14:37] first meeting of the new year, we
[14:39] actually have no new resolutions for
[14:42] consideration.
[14:44] Um, of course, the holidays uh added to
[14:47] that. Vanessa, do we have things lined
[14:50] up for next week yet?
[14:51] >> I have one.
[14:52] >> Okay,
[14:53] >> that's it.
[14:54] >> Okay. And I'm sure some more will come
[14:56] in, but uh this doesn't happen very
[14:58] often. We have no new business for for
[15:01] us to vote on which actually drops us
[15:04] down to announcements and we've touched
[15:06] on some of these already. This board
[15:08] will meet again on a week from today,
[15:11] Tuesday, January 13 at 10:00 a.m. in
[15:14] this room. It's open to the public. We
[15:16] noted the West Central Job Partnership
[15:18] Governing Board meeting. Also, a week
[15:21] from today at 1:30 in this room, open to
[15:23] the public. The Lawrence County Planning
[15:26] Commission is scheduled to meet one week
[15:29] from tomorrow, uh, Wednesday, January 14
[15:34] at noon at the Weber's Catering location
[15:38] on US Route 422 in Shenango Township.
[15:42] Not the Weber's Catering up in
[15:44] Wilmington Township. This is the one in
[15:46] Shenango Township. And that meeting is
[15:49] open to the public.
[15:51] Speaking of public, we open the floor
[15:54] for public comments, but we'll note for
[15:55] the record there are no members of the
[15:58] public in attendance. And so I'll ask uh
[16:02] my fellow commissioners if they have any
[16:04] closing concerns or remarks. Mr. Sonat,
[16:08] the only thing I'll do I'll emphasize
[16:09] what both of you said. It was historic
[16:11] here yesterday and it was good to see
[16:14] Judge McCome. Yeah. Here uh you know
[16:17] he's very well respected in the
[16:19] community. may have health issues, but
[16:21] he looks great and it was nice to see
[16:23] him back. And I wish our other judges,
[16:26] Judge Aker and Judge Hodge, the best in
[16:28] their retirement or semi-retirement. I
[16:31] think Judge H is going to come see their
[16:33] judge now. So, right. And Judge always
[16:35] good to see Judge M. And I think the
[16:37] three judges that got elected are going
[16:40] to do a good job up there. And I think
[16:41] it was stressed yesterday, chairman,
[16:43] that uh we've had a very good working
[16:46] relationship with the judges in the past
[16:48] and uh we look forward to that same
[16:50] relationship going forward with the
[16:51] three new judges. I I would I would
[16:54] certainly agree. And before I jump to
[16:56] Dan here, I'll note that uh this morning
[16:59] at about 20 to 8, uh Judge Flannry
[17:02] walked in the door getting ready to
[17:04] start his day. And uh we asked him, we
[17:06] said, "What's on your agenda today?" and
[17:08] he said, "We have a uh an assessment
[17:11] appeal uh that started at 9:30. In fact,
[17:14] our solicitor is in court right now with Judge Flannry." So, but he was here
[17:19] bright and early and I'm sure the other
[17:21] two judges rolled in early as well and
[17:24] of course, Judge Cox. Uh Dan, closing
[17:27] comments? The only one I have is to talk
[17:30] briefly about Wilson Lumber. The nice
[17:33] thing is they could have went to Mercer
[17:35] County. They had property up there, but
[17:37] they stayed in Lawrence County. So, we
[17:39] have to suggest to them, thank you for
[17:41] staying here in Lawrence County. It's
[17:44] going to be a nice operation up there
[17:46] for them. So, be interesting to see what
[17:49] all they've done because I've got to
[17:50] watch it grow.
[17:51] >> Yeah.
[17:52] >> As I've gone by every day, but be
[17:54] interested and see what they've done.
[17:57] >> Is that the old Newcastle battery site?
[17:59] >> Yes.
[18:00] >> That's what I thought.
[18:01] >> Oh, that reminds me real quick. And I I
[18:03] we may have talked about it last
[18:05] Tuesday, but I'm not sure. Uh but it's
[18:09] been announced that uh a colleague of
[18:12] ours from Bonango County, County
[18:14] Commissioner Chip Abramovic
[18:16] has been named uh the new director of
[18:20] Forward Lawrence and we know Mr. Kennedy
[18:23] serves on that board. Excuse me.
[18:26] Mr. Kennedy serves on that board and uh
[18:29] Commissioner Abramovic is going to start
[18:31] I believe in early February
[18:33] >> February third
[18:34] >> and uh I've known Chip I think he's in
[18:37] his third term now as a commissioner so
[18:39] he and I have been acquainted for if I
[18:42] do the math about 10 years and you
[18:44] gentlemen have gotten to know him over
[18:45] the last two years. Uh he'll bring a lot
[18:48] to the table. He's energetic. Uh he's
[18:52] wellconed.
[18:54] uh he uh uh
[18:57] was chair for a number of years of the
[18:59] Northwest Regional Planning Commission
[19:02] and uh equally important uh this is
[19:05] where his statewide connections come in.
[19:08] He was uh active in the has been active
[19:11] in the state county commissioners
[19:13] association in leadership uh vice chair president. He's held all the all
[19:20] the important seats in statewide
[19:22] leadership. So, I think it was an
[19:24] excellent choice and we're all going to
[19:26] work with him. You'll work with him most
[19:29] closely since you're on the board. But,
[19:31] uh, I commend forward Lawrence for uh,
[19:34] an excellent choice. I don't know if you
[19:36] gentlemen have more to ask.
[19:37] >> The only thing I can say is, you know, I
[19:38] met Chip at my daughter's wedding at the
[19:40] Alman Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh in
[19:43] the elevator. uh didn't know who he was,
[19:45] but him and I got talking on the
[19:48] elevator when we were going down and and
[19:50] I said, "I just gotten elected in the
[19:52] primaries of county commissioner
[19:54] Lawrence County." He said, "That's funny
[19:56] because I'm a county commissioner in
[19:58] Bernango County." So, we hit it off
[20:00] pretty good and Chip and I have fast
[20:02] become good friends. He's a good guy. I
[20:05] think u he's already got his boots on
[20:08] ground. He's he's I heard from him
[20:10] yesterday. um today he might show up
[20:13] here. We don't know yet, but he he said
[20:15] if he gets done up there early, he's
[20:17] gonna show up this afternoon and we're
[20:19] going to start going around and visit
[20:21] some people and get him introduced to
[20:23] Lawrence County pretty quick in the next
[20:25] month. So when he hits February 3rd,
[20:28] he's ready to go.
[20:30] He'll be well prepared. So thank you for
[20:33] that information. And Chris, any other
[20:36] comments? I just like to say I met him
[20:38] two years ago and you introduced us when
[20:40] we went off to the county and I've had a
[20:43] good chance to meet with him but you
[20:44] also mentioned he was very active in the
[20:47] national association commission right
[20:50] which I'm trying to play play somewhat
[20:52] of a role as well as representing us
[20:54] that group and uh you know I spent some
[20:56] time with Chip and Nico last year and he
[20:59] is well connected Washington DC as well
[21:02] I think that's going to pay dividends I
[21:04] commend forwardlords uh I I know it's an
[21:06] extensive search. They're looking for
[21:08] the best person possible. And you know,
[21:10] Chip, reading his resume, it's quite
[21:13] impressive. I didn't even know some of
[21:14] the things that he has done or served
[21:16] that until I actually read the paper
[21:19] because he's very humble individual, but
[21:21] uh he knows what has to be done. And I
[21:23] think that's what you need and you need
[21:25] a fresh set of eyeships.
[21:29] I think Ben Bush did a very good job at
[21:31] that. he came in uh and I think Chip is
[21:34] going to follow in his footsteps as far
[21:36] as uh you know seeing the ways of
[21:38] helping and he understands local
[21:40] government, he understands state
[21:42] government, federal government. So I
[21:44] think those are the important thing. You
[21:45] got to develop those relationships and
[21:47] we've got to all be on the same team
[21:48] moving forward. I think he brings that
[21:51] to the table. I know you've known him
[21:52] the longest and you spoke quite highly
[21:55] of him when we first introduced us to
[21:57] him and I think I think it's a good
[21:59] choice and I know he's enthused and
[22:02] that's what you need right now. So I
[22:05] think prayer and I thank you both
[22:06] gentlemen. Uh Joe or Vanessa anything
[22:10] we've uh forgotten
[22:13] >> everything's well with you I hope it is
[22:15] >> good to hear. Well, we thank you all
[22:18] again. We did not have any folks from
[22:21] the public today, but uh there being no
[22:23] other business to be brought before the
[22:24] court, may I have an adjournment motion?
[22:26] I'll make that motion and I'll second.
[22:28] >> Thank you both. All those in favor,
[22:30] please say I. I oppose. Same sign.
[22:31] Motion carried. We are ajourned. Thank
[22:33] you all.
[22:34] >> Joe, you think you can keep it this way
[22:35] all [clears throat] year? [laughter]
[22:39] » We had to stretch it out. We don't want
[22:40] you around 15 [clears throat] minutes.
[22:42] >> I can get rid of some resolutions.
[22:46] >> [laughter]
[22:47] >> Now listen and and you know we saw