Paige Baxter

The meeting began with the approval of weekly bills totaling $5,419,549.33. Discussions covered several financial appropriations and transfers, including funds for road work, runway paving, a courthouse scanner, and various departmental needs for Jobs and Family Services and the court system. Specific appropriations addressed juror/witness fees, magistrate salaries shared with probate juvenile courts, and funding for adult probation community service coordination. The Board elected officers, appointing Jack as president and James Low as vice president of the Ross County Board of Commissioners. Other items included an amendment to the Walsh Museum American Heritage Museum grant agreement, approval of a lease agreement for the Jobs and Family Services service center, re-appointments to the Children's Trust Fund, an increase in the private vehicle travel allowance to 72 cents per mile, an extension for 2025 dog registrations, and a review of bridge weight limit postings. An appropriation for the Drug Court subsidy was discussed but held pending cancellation of prior purchase orders.

The meeting included approvals for weekly bills totaling $1,241,661.82, which included specific allocations for JCGP grant and juvenile support costs. Several financial transfers were approved, including funds for probation body armor replacement, reallocation within the Sheriff's Office budget, a transfer within the Auditor's office for real estate assessments, and funds to cover group insurance payments. An appropriation of $249,500 from the general fund to CLE for freshman law enforcement was approved, as well as funds for VOCHA and data processing expenses. The Planning Department received a $500,000 appropriation from the ACGP development grant due to accelerated project progress. Other actions included the appointment of James Gardner to the Library Board of Trustees, approval of administrative costs for an Ohio Water Pollution Control grant, a credit amendment for the Monroe Theater Project, and an appropriation of $550,000 for service center renovations. Discussion also focused heavily on the airport strategy plan, noting the county's Level 3 rating due to lacking automated landing instrumentation and 24/7 operations, and the need to define long-term vision and ROI for potential upgrades. The committee also reviewed documentation related to a water line replacement project receiving $750,000 in PPI grant funds.

The meeting included the approval of weekly bills totaling over $2.1 million, with significant amounts allocated to Planning and Development ($831,787) and Juvenile Ford grant funding ($46,000). Multiple fund transfers were discussed and approved, including transfers between county departments for auditor expenses, IT equipment services, and covering 2025 salaries for the Ross County Courts. Other financial actions involved transfers for the county board of elections to reimburse the state, fund movements within the County Engineer's budget for salaries and insurance, and appropriations from the general fund for contract services and legal research (Lexus Nexus). Approvals were also granted for Board of DD fund transfers, an appropriation for JDBC November payment, transfers for the County Prosecutor and County Clerk employee salaries, and funding for the Ross County Sheriff's Office 911 services upgrade. Additionally, the board approved an amendment to the architect agreement for the People's Streetscape Project, a real estate purchase agreement for the Lucy Web Haze House, the contract award for the Village of Clarksburg Third Street Reconstruction, and certification for the senior citizens levy failure election results. Business related to a Microsoft Systems contract for the recorder, a scanner purchase, and jail project payments was also addressed.

The meeting involved approving bills for payment and "Then & Now" Certificates totaling $58,837.73. Several appropriations of funds were approved, including transfers from the Jail Diversion Grant Fund, General Fund, One Ohio Opioid Fund, and ACGP Appalachian Fund to various accounts such as Rebursements, Office Supplies, Grant Regional Planning, Public Defenders Office, and Grants Other. Resolutions were passed authorizing the Ross County Planning & Development Department to apply for the Ohio Department of Agriculture Land Use Planning Grant (Resolution 004-26) and designating the Official Representative and Alternate for the County Commissioners Association of Ohio Annual Meeting in 2026 (Resolution 005-26). The Board decided not to hold a hearing for a new liquor permit for The Golf Barn LLC and signed the Promulgation Statement for the Ross County Emergency Operation Plan. The Commissioners held an executive session to discuss confidential matters regarding the Ross County Shoemaker Airport. Other business included discussions on financing options for the Ross County Courthouse restoration, the feasibility of reinstating the Piggy Back Tax, clarification on Park District budget appropriations, and the need for a new county policy regarding credit card usage researched by the Attorney.

The meeting included the approval of bills for payment and 'Then & Now' Certificates totaling $45,090.70. Funds in the amount of $7,887.59 were appropriated from the Marriage License Fund to the Shelters account. A key action was the passage of Resolution 006-26, supporting the transfer of excess state-owned land from the State of Ohio to Ross County for economic development, housing, and implementation of the County Comprehensive Plan. Other business included approving Amendment 1 to the Architect Agreement for the Chauncey Streetscape Project to cover design and construction administration costs for safety improvements and truck network access analysis. The Board also approved an advertisement for proposals to administer the 2026 CHIP Grant, signed a Certificate of Exemption from Federal Excise Tax for the Juvenile Court's purchase of services from GloInternet, approved a change order for the ACGP UNESCO Construction Project at no cost to the County, and approved an amendment increasing the ACGP grant agreement with the Village of Bainbridge by $468,473. The Board decided not to hold a hearing for a liquor permit transfer. An Asset Disposal Form for a surplus Brother Printer was approved. Finally, the time sheet for the County Administrator was approved before the Board recessed into executive session and subsequently resumed the regular session.