From left: Washington County Commissioners James Booth, Charlie Schilling and Kevin Ritter sign documents related to additional funding allocations for various county departments during a county commission meeting Thursday morning. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Washington County Commissioners approved nine additional appropriations and three transfers on Thursday.
During a commission meeting Thursday morning, commissioners approved an additional $5,000 appropriation for expenses to the One Ohio Opioid Fund.
The OneOhio Recovery Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization created at the direction of the state of Ohio to distribute 55 percent of the funds the state receives from the pharmaceutical industry for its role in the opioid epidemic, the group’s website says.
“These funds are requested to finance the agreement with the Ohio Valley Educational Service Center,” Ben Cowdery, Washington County finance manager, commented on the funding allocation in a letter to commissioners.
According to Washington County Commissioner Charlie Schilling, the Ohio Valley ESC will offer prevention programs in the 14 preschools it operates.
Commissioners also approved two additional appropriations for the county clerk of courts, one for $33,500 and one for $9,200, both for health insurance, Clerk of Courts Brenda Wolfe said in a letter to commissioners.
Commissioners approved two additional appropriations for the county engineer’s office. One was for $206,855 for a project on Township Road 559, described on the county website as a bridge replacement. The other appropriation was for $95,856.54.
“These are funds for investment spending,” Said Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter.
Additionally, two appropriations for the Washington County Department of Jobs and Family Services were approved, one for $1,294 and one for $13,000. The $1,294 is for unemployment assistance and the $13,000 is for the Comprehensive Case Management and Employment Program (CCMEP), according to an email to commissioners from Dawn Freeland, chief fiscal officer of the WCDJFS.
An additional appropriation for the Budget Stabilization Fund of $167,520.28 was also approved. According to an email from Freeland to commissioners, the money is an advance payment.
Job and Family Services needs the money to cover the amount it will be short of for its Aug. 23 payroll while it awaits new federal allocations, according to an email from Freeland to commissioners.
The commissioners approved an additional appropriation of $15,288.30 for the Sheriff’s Office.
The money comes from an auction of confiscated items and some department vehicles and will be used for the K9 program, according to a letter from Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks to commissioners.
In other matters, the Commissioners shall have the following tasks:
* Authorized payment of bills totaling $1,443,070.48, of which $245,981.88 is for the general fund.
* Approved a resolution recognizing Cole Stine, an eleventh-grader at Marietta High School, for a Boy Scout Eagle Scout project he completed at Indian Acres Park in Marietta.
* Approved the appointment of Andrew Petty as Manager of Buildings and Grounds in the Maintenance Department, effective August 15.
* The OPWC funding requested by County Engineer Roger Wright to pave Zion Ridge Road near Hills Bridge and County Road 9 and Sheet Run Road from Ohio 7 to Sandhill Road was approved.
* Authorized the mailing of property tax bills by the County Engineer’s Office to customers already connected to the Devola sewer system. According to the letter, all residents connected to the sewer system will be assessed a fee of $6.00 per equivalent dwelling unit capacity, and residents may either pay this fee in one lump sum before September 5th or they may have it credited against their property taxes interest-free for 30 years.
* Withdrew the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority’s $50,000 loan request and then voted to remove it from the list of pending deals. According to Commissioner James Booth, the Washington County Attorney’s Office informed commissioners they did not have the authority to grant the loan. SeOPA will instead receive a $1.5 million bond from the county to purchase the former AMP Gorsuch site on State Route 7.
