Tuscarawas County

The Board of Commissioners convened for a regular session. Key actions taken included approving supplemental appropriations for the Grants department ($119,302.76 for cash advance to sewer district) and the W & S department ($51,125.98 for additional work at Wilkshire Hills WWTP). The Board also approved Then & Now expenditures totaling $2,405.35. Additionally, retired Judge Elizabeth Thomakos was appointed to the Public Defender Board for a term ending February 1, 2030. A Resolution of Necessity concerning a tax levy for the Tuscarawas County Board of Developmental Disabilities (TuscBDD) failed to pass, with a 1-1 vote. The Board plans to revisit the levy in June or July for the November ballot. Finally, the Board approved payment for numerous outstanding bills across various funds.

The meeting agenda included a retirement recognition for Judge Elizabeth Thomakos and a follow-up discussion with TuscBDD regarding a potential levy for the May ballot. Key actions involved holding an executive session concerning possible property acquisition for the Engineer's Building renovation and addition project. The Board approved several financial actions, including supplemental appropriations, inter-fund transfers, declaring obsolete office furniture from the Sheriff's department, approving bids for material for the Engineer, approving hires, approving proposals for fire/security inspections and backflow unit replacement by Koorsen Fire & Security, approving a mortgage note with the Newcomerstown CIC, appointing members to the Community Corrections Planning Board, authorizing cooperative agreement services for the Roswell Sewer Project, authorizing Amendment #2 for the Wilkshire Hills Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, authorizing an interim pump replacement at Baltic Well #6 as an exigent repair, approving a lateral relocation and reimbursement agreement, approving the 2026 Non-General Budget for the County Planning Commission, and finally, paying outstanding bills.

The meeting agenda included several official actions. The board approved supplemental appropriations primarily to account for employee transfers within the Parks & Recreation Department. A transfer of funds was approved for the Sheriff's department to cover repairs. The board formally changed the meeting times for December 22 and December 29, 2025, to 9:00 a.m. A road maintenance agreement was approved with Independence OH, LLC, authorizing the use of Tuscarawas County Road No. 102 for hauling oversized equipment between specified dates. Additionally, Elizabeth Miller was re-appointed to the Tuscarawas County Library Board of Trustees for a term expiring in 2032. The session concluded with the approval of bills totaling $141,596.60 across various departments.

The Board meeting agenda included adopting a proclamation for Anti-Human Trafficking Awareness Month. Key actions involved approving supplemental appropriations across several departments (Sheriff, Road & Bridge, OCED) and approving an inter-fund transfer/advance. Personnel matters included accepting the new hire of Amy Burrier as a Social Service Worker 3 for JFS. The Board nominated the President and Vice-President of the Board and established the meeting schedule, holiday schedule, and mileage rates for 2026. Further actions included approving out-of-county travel for Commissioners, appointing various representatives for 2026 boards, designating voting representatives for the CCAO Annual Meeting, appointing Don Ackerman as Apiary Inspector, and re-appointing Kerry Metzger and Leslie Korns to the Region 11 Governance Board. Significant financial resolutions involved rescinding a previous resolution regarding a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) proposal for Franklin Twp., and establishing three new non-school TIF districts in Franklin Twp.: Bell-Store, Harwalk Road, and Route 250. Additionally, the Board approved a proposal from Independent Elevator, approved monthly contracts for JFS, renamed a fund (T24), approved a donation to the Sheriff's Office K-9 unit, approved an agreement for inmate telephone services, approved a change order for the Wilkshire Hills Sanitary Sewer Project, and authorized the payment of numerous outstanding bills totaling over half a million dollars.

The meeting agenda included suspending the minutes from the previous meeting, approving supplemental appropriations for tax transfers and grant returns, and approving reductions of appropriations primarily for the Parks Department to bring funds back into balance. Key actions involved approving inter-fund transfers and advances from the County General fund to various grants and funds for the first quarter of 2026. Resolutions were passed to declare obsolete office equipment in the Law Library and to authorize an inter-county transfer of funds agreement for Child Support Awareness and Training funds for calendar year 2026. The board also approved the Treasurer's Investments for December 2025 and authorized payment for numerous bills across various funds.