Lawrence official says flooding is unlikely

By Mary Grzebieniak

NEW CASTLE, Pa. — Flooding due to melting snow is not likely in Lawrence County unless the area gets 1 or 2 inches of rain in the coming weeks, said Brian Melcer, Lawrence County Director of Public Safety.

Melcer was responding to a resident’s question when Lawrence County commissioners met Tuesday. Melcer said that officials are more concerned about flooding in areas to the south — in the Pittsburgh area and in West Virginia because they received greater amounts of snow.

Melcer said, however, spots that have caused trouble in the past in the county are being monitored. The county has a plan ready to be activated if flooding does occur.

He added that he also has filed paperwork for a disaster declaration that would make municipalities in Lawrence County eligible for reimbursement for snow-removal costs for the heavy snow of the past weeks.

But he said it does not appear likely the county will qualify for the declaration.

The commissioners also handled these matters:

USigned a one-year lease with Clean Force Rental, a division of U.S. Food Service, Greensburg, for a commercial dishwasher for the county jail for $415 per month, which includes $180 monthly for soap.

The jail’s current dishwasher broke, but a new one costs more than $50,000 so the county is leasing it to try it out and will buy it after a year if it is acceptable. Part of the lease price will go toward the purchase, Commissioner Steve Craig said. He said a dishwasher is necessary because of jail sanitation standards.

USigned a contract with RecordFusion, New Castle, for conversion of all current Lawrence County Register and Recorder microfiche back to 1849.

The $42,000 cost will be paid by the Records Improvement Fund, which is derived from a fee charged for every document and deed recorded at the courthouse. The property records then would be stored on computer disks in several locations to keep them safe in case of a fire or natural disaster.