Ben Cowdery

This Community Involvement Plan (CIP) outlines strategies for public engagement to fulfill the outreach obligations for the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Coalition Assessment Grant. It details guidelines for community outreach, public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and outreach materials. The plan also includes processes for soliciting questions and feedback and establishing an administrative record, focusing on engagement within Washington, Guernsey, and Pike Counties, Ohio.

The meeting addressed several key areas including a sales tax distribution proposal, application for a BWC Safety Intervention Grant for the Maintenance Department, and certification of Devola Sewer Tax Assessments. Additional appropriations were approved for Permissive Sales Tax, Behavioral Health Levy, and the County General Fund, along with a transfer of funds for Child Support. The board also discussed building demolition and site revitalization, designating the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority as the lead entity, and reviewed proposals for the Brownfield Coalition Grant. Comments were made regarding the Devola Sewer Project, new hires, security measures for the Sternwheel Festival, and support for the homeless.

The meeting included discussions and decisions on various financial matters, such as additional appropriations for the County General, Jail, Job & Family Services, Americorps National, and the Engineer's Office, as well as transfers of funds for Community Development, Sewer, and Family & Children First. The board addressed Then & Now Certificates, travel requests for Children Services and Family & Children First, and the Sheriff's monthly report on the care of prisoners. They also approved the disposal of unusable jail items, the appointment of Commissioner Schilling to the Eastern Ohio Development Alliance (EODA) Board of Directors, and a request to display purple lights at the Courthouse for the Walk to End Alzheimer's. The board addressed a liquor permit notice for Dollar General Store #17024 and opioid settlement participation forms. Payment was approved for Veregy regarding the Courthouse Elevator Project, and a request from Job & Family Services to lease vehicles from Toyota was also approved.

The session addressed various topics including a sales tax distribution proposal, establishing a new fund for the Sewer Department Pump Station Upgrade-Phase 2 Project, and a resolution supporting Hershel "Woody" Williams for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Additional appropriations were approved for multiple departments, along with fund transfers. The board discussed a grant request from M.I.E. and ultimately approved a Letter of Support for the Port Authority's application to the U.S. Department of Transportation's FY2025 Port Infrastructure Development Program for the Appalachian Multimodal Port Project. Other items included approving Then & Now Certificates, travel requests for Children Services, an amendment to the contract with CHIA for the AmeriCorps Grant, a request for a salary increase for AmeriCorps Seniors-RSVP, a request for General Funds from CSEA, and the CSEA Civil Rights/ADA/LEP Plan. The board also approved an agreement between Children Services and Integrated Services, certification of delinquent sewer accounts, a request for an extension for the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant, payment for the Devola Sewer Project Phase 2, and bid specifications for the 2025 Centerline Striping Project.

The meeting included discussions on sales tax distribution, sewer RFQ recommendation and selection, and a resolution for Child Support Awareness Month. Additional appropriations were approved for various departments, including the Jail, Capital Projects, Family & Children First, and the Engineer. Transfers of funds were approved for the Jail Commissary. Travel requests for Children Services were approved. The Commissioners acknowledged the monthly report on the care of prisoners. A professional service agreement with Partners Environmental Consulting, Inc. was tabled. Woolpert was approved as the first choice consultant for the State Route 7 South Sewer Project. The Glendale Tower and communication needs of EMS squads were discussed. The CCAO Ohio Counties Scholarship was presented to Anna Ritter, and an update on the SNAP-Ed Program was provided.