At its Nov. 12 meeting, the Lawrence County commissioners approved two separate contracts for county operations: a two-year agreement with Southwest Behavioral Health Management and a three-year auditing-services renewal with Salamkovsky Axelrod.

Joe (MHDS representative) presented the Southwest Behavioral Health renewal, which would run Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027. The organization provides liaison services, fiscal oversight and managed-care coordination across a six-county consortium that includes Lawrence County. "They serve as liaison... and they handle a lot of fiscal oversight," the presenter said. Commissioners voted to approve the contract by roll call (Resolution 371).

Separately, the controller recommended continuing the county's auditing contract with Salamkovsky Axelrod for 2026–28, including a 3% inflationary adjustment each year. The 2026 county financial single-audit fee was stated as $88,000 and the conservation-district audit fee as $3,950; by 2028 the single-audit fee would be roughly $93,300. Commissioners moved and approved the three-year renewal by roll call (Resolution 372).

Officials said the auditor had provided important assistance during CARES/ARPA reporting and was recommended by the controller's office.