Gerald R. Coleman

The agenda for this session includes the Call to Order, Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the precinct redistricting plan for court approval, a Public Comment period, and Adjournment. The document also notes the presence of County Commissioners and the Director of the Office of the Board of Elections.

The meeting commenced with a prayer offered by Pastor Patricia Cherry and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Specialist Joe de Thomas. Key agenda items addressed included the approval of minutes from the February 5th, 2026 meeting. A special order of business involved the reading of a proclamation for February 2026 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which was moved and adopted. Following public comment, the board handled several business items: approving a change order for the runway lightning project; appointing members to the Farmland Preservation Board and the Opioid Settlement Review Committee; approving a facilities service agreement for hosting DHS and FEMA courses; approving an oil and gas lease with Range Resources; adopting amendments to the CDBG program; approving a commercial agreement and land lease for an airport hanger; updating the military leave of absence policy; approving a provider agreement for peer support services for parents involved with child welfare; approving the 2026 administrative entity operating agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; approving a provider agreement with the Union Mission for Housing and Supportive Services; and approving several license/addendum agreements related to radio tower sites for public safety.

The meeting addressed numerous agenda items covering multiple departments. Key actions included the approval of amended division orders with Range Resources for two separate units. Bids were awarded for landscaping supplies for all county buildings, with the contract effective March 1, 2026. Bid extensions were approved for grave markers for Veterans Affairs and for radio equipment installation and repairs for law enforcement. A change order for the Washington County Fairgrounds exhibit hall one restrooms project was approved, increasing the total contract cost. Approvals were granted for the purchase of a solvent printer for Planning Commission use, and for a professional services consulting agreement for public defender services. The commissioners also approved an agreement with Jefferson County, Ohio, for juvenile placement beds, and an agreement with PRC for a household hazardous waste and tire collection event in the summer of 2026. Finance discussions resulted in the approval of a grant application for courthouse dome repairs requiring a 50% cash match, and approval of grant applications for rescue equipment replacement and specialized equipment purchases. Other approvals included an updated privacy and security officer designation policy, board appointments to the CYS advisory board and hospital authority board, renewal of a cooperative agreement for the Title 4D Child Support Enforcement Program, and a cooperation agreement for an LSA grant. Further actions included authorizing advertising for bids for HVAC systems and shelving for record storage buildings, advertising for proposals for a forensic mental health transitional housing program, and advertising for proposals for emergency solutions focusing on homelessness. Maintenance renewal agreements for water treatment and radio tower site licensing were also approved.

The meeting began with a prayer and a pledge of allegiance led by a Navy veteran. A motion to approve minutes dated December 4th, 2025, was passed. Public comments addressed several critical topics. One speaker expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed structure for establishing an opioid settlement review board, arguing it lacked necessary representation from sectors like healthcare, behavioral health, and individuals with lived experience of substance use disorder. This speaker highlighted documented instances of prior opioid funding non-compliance by the commission. Other speakers discussed the positive impact of recovery support programs, such as the success readiness framework, and thanked commissioners for their involvement in community programs supporting youth and recovery efforts. Another speaker advocated for a shift in tourism strategy to aggressively promote the county's outdoor industry, including hunting, fishing, and related retail, noting the significant national spending potential in this sector. A final speaker, representing the local Republican Party, spoke on transparency and condemned corruption at all levels of government.

The committee convened to review and vote on recommendations for the Washington County Local Share Program, which are to be provided to the county commissioners. The meeting involved reviewing multiple project recommendations across several groupings, including some where members had to abstain due to conflicts of interest, such as employment with Washington County or affiliation with the Mon Valley Alliance Foundation. Key projects discussed involved funding for facility improvements, municipal projects, renovations, infrastructure upgrades (sewer, water lines, storm sewers), equipment replacement (pumper truck, video board), and various economic and workforce development initiatives (CDL training, STEM programs). The total funding recommended across approved projects was $9,526,500. All other unmentioned projects would not be forwarded for consideration.