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POMEROY — During their regular meeting Thursday, Meigs County Commissioners approved the issuance of bonds by Gallia County to financially support the merger of Holzer Medical Center and Holzer Clinic.

Approving the issuance of bonds doesn’t pose any liability or cost to Meigs County though the merger required the commission’s approval since one of the bodies involved, Holzer Meigs Clinic, rests within the county. Attorney Erin Sutton, representing the firm of Peck and Shaffer, said the merger will result in the new Holzer Health Systems and Holzer Meigs Clinic would stay open. Sutton said there has been talk of expanding clinic services and a study is being done on an emergency room for Meigs County.

Commissioners also renewed contracts for Doug Lavender as both EMS and 911 Director. Lavender also informed commissioners, Meigs EMS now has Lifepack 12 monitors on the county’s two, primary medic trucks and the medic truck in Syracuse. The monitors enable emergency personnel to transmit EKG readings from the medic trucks to Holzer Medical Center, St. Mary’s Hospital and Charleston Area Medical Center (Memorial Division), which speeds up the time of treatment for patients. Holzer Medical Center paid for the modem while the county pays for maintenance and the Verizon cell phone contract to transmit the signal, according to Lavender.

Commissioners also held the second of two hearings for a program which assists in low income home repair - the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development Office’s Housing Preservation Grant. The grant provides for the repair or rehabilitation of low- and very low-income housing, and is made available in areas where there is a concentration of need. Trussell has said she wants to apply for enough funds to rehabilitate an estimated eight houses - around $65,000.

Commissioners also approved permanent appropriations in the amount of $155,000 for the Help Me Grow program under the direction of the Families and Children First Council.

Commissioners approved Kelly Epling as a social worker for the Meigs County Department of Job and Family Services, upon the recommendation of MCDJFS Director Chris Shank.

Other business:

Approved replacing a bridge in Rutland Township near Lasher Rd. which was damaged by heavy rains; also approved was pursuing funding for the replacement through the Ohio Public Works.

Pat Holter and Mary Powell from the Chester-Shade Historical Association. appeared to discuss hiring Judy Buckley part time for 20 hours per week at the courthouse with part of the money possibly coming from the commission and the other from the Association. Commissioners are reviewing Buckley’s application and the proposal. Holter and Powell also said there were visitors from 11 states and 12 counties which attended the Ohio Chautauqua at Chester Commons.