Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

The board of the Lawrence-Scioto County Solid Waste Management District (LSSWMD) recently voted to end its 12-year relationship with the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization (CAO). According to one LSSWMD board member, the move was motivated by conflict.

The Ironton Tribune is quoting Lawrence County Commissioner Les Boggs as saying the need to move, “was (caused) by a conflict between the solid waste district director Dan Palmer and CAO Director D.R. Gossett.”

“There was a problem with Dan and D.R., I would not deny that. That’s the reason I made the statement that we wanted more control over hiring and firing of personnel. In the long run, after all the discussion, it came down to a business decision,” said Tom Reiser, Chairman of the LSSWMD Board of Directors and Scioto County Commissioner.

He said the district did a survey of all of the other solid waste districts in the state. “We were the only ones that was operating on a contract basis,” Reiser said. “The state auditors audit our books, they don’t have the ability to audit everything that’s going on. We wanted to get the district under the state audit system, so everything would be accounted for, no questions asked.”

He said that was one of many reasons for the split.

“D.R. and Dan have had a little personal tiff. That alone, I do not think was enough for us to make the move, but, it was an element,” Reiser said. “We’ve been very fortunate to have had the corporation that we’ve had over the years with CAO. We’ve had a great relationship with D.R. We would likely not be where we are today without the involvement of the Lawrence County CAO over the years,” Reiser said.

LSSWMD’s contract with the Ironton-Lawrence County CAO is set to end Nov. 9. After the contract ends, the district will relocate to an office at 109 North Third St., in Ironton.

Palmer declined comment and Gossett and Boggs could not be reached for comment.

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