Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Legal action and involvement from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office are potentially the next steps in the ongoing dispute between the Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District and the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization.

It has been three months since the Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District cut ties with the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization. In the transition, there as been a dispute between the agencies regarding the ownership of vehicles formerly operated by the district and about $150,000 in funding.

As a temporary solution, Dan Palmer LSSWMD Director, has been able to secure donated vehicles. The vehicles came to the district thanks to Scioto County Sheriff Marty Donini and Spectra Outreach Services of Ironton who donated a van to the district.

“The agency has been hindered as a result of this dispute. They are still getting things done, unfortunately they are doing this in a situation that should not have occurred,” said Mike Crabtree, Chairman of the Scioto County Commissioners and LSSWMD Board Member. “The only thing they are trying to get back is funds that are solid waste funds and the cars.”

Crabtree said the reality is that it’s been three months and maybe the delay is just part of the legal process.

“I know things take time but, unfortunately as time moves on their account is being depleted and something definitely has to be done. How soon it will happen I don’t know,” Crabtree said. “The Attorney General’s Office has offered to assist in any way they can to try to get this thing resolved on behalf of the Solid Waste District.”

A call to the Attorney General’s Office Thursday afternoon confirmed their knowledge of the situation.

“I can say the Attorney General’s Office has been made aware of that situation and is looking at it,” Attorney General’s Office Public Information Officer Mark Moretti said.

Crabtree said the reality is that the money and titles to the vehicles in question are under the control of CAO and, “under their current leadership they are not willing to budge on that. Although they (cars) are in the name of CAO, they were bought with Solid Waste dollars. Community Action does not have anything invested in those vehicles,” Crabtree said.

According to Danielle Parker, Assistant Scioto County Prosecutor, she is going to attempt to talk to Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization’s attorney.

“We are going to see if we can get this resolved and if not then we will proceed with legal action to try to have it decided what happens with the cars and the money,” Parker said.

When asked how long that would be expected to take Parker said, “hopefully we have an answer by early next week.”

Curt Anderson, Ironton-Lawrence County CAO’s attorney, was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

Calls placed to Ironton-Lawrence County CAO for a comment were not returned.

The LSSWMD Board of Directors ended its relationship with Lawrence County Community Action (CAO), effective Nov. 9. The staff or the LSSWMD are now considered Scioto County Employees.

The LSSWMD Board of Directors consists of Scioto County Commissioners, Tom Reiser, Mike Crabtree and Skip Riffe and Lawrence County Commissioners Bill Pratt, Les Boggs and Freddie Hayes. The LSSWMD office is located at 109 North Third St., in Ironton. For more information about the LSSWMD visit, www.lsswmd.org.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or tallen@civitasmedia.com.