Ashland County Commissioners hear Sheriff's Office, Soil and Water budget presentations
In a two-hour session on Thursday commissioners listened to two budget presentations and the quarterly insurance report from a County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio representative.
Previous meeting: Ashland County Commissioners authorize Department of Job and Family Services positions
The first presentation was presented by Sheriff E. Wayne Risner and Chief Deputy Sheriff David Blake. In the budget request was a 3% pay increase for employees and the addition of a second shift deputy as well as a discussion on future technology needs.
SWCD Program Administrator Jane Houin presented the Soil & Water budget presentation. “For every dollar you have invested into Ashland Soil & Water, we have been able to secure additional funding,” said Houin. “This year those returns are $4.68.”
“That is a pretty good return on your investment,” said Commissioner Mike Welch.
CEBCO representative Wendy Dillingham broke down the insurance report by medical and prescription noting the insurance covers 227 total members.
Ashland County Commissioners approve multiple appropriations for year-end needs
Five different areas received appropriations including Information Technology ($910 for equipment), Commissioners ($57,338 – Workers’ Compensation Premium; $7,547 – CCAO membership dues and $3,675 – steel truck bed), Jail Operations ($6,865.36 – wages and holiday pay), CARES Act ($8,500 – Medicare and insurance) and Foster Care Support ($1,500 for funding received from Juvenile Court for Christmas presents for children in custody).
Also approved were a number of transfers that included Dog & Kennel ($489.20 for vehicle repairs), Sheriff ($727.16 – holiday pay and $2,913.96 for contract services and holiday pay), Concealed Carry ($2,198.32 – holiday pay); Children Services ($7,000 for expenses), CSEA ($7,000 for expenses), Municipal Court ($3,000 for expenses) and Prosecutor ($456.37 for supplies and $2,000 for anticipated expenses).
Interest transfers were approved for CARES Act ($4.50), G&MV ($1,695.87), PAF Trust ($53.91), Dale-Roy Trust ($492.06), Revolving Loan ($31.48), Community Block Grant ($11.25) and B. Stauffer Trust ($11.70).
Job and Family Services to lease building, parking facilities
A one-year lease agreement was approved at the rate of $1,622.41 per month with JFS for building and parking facilities at 15 W. 4th St..
County Engineer Ed Meixner and Engineering Assistant Becky Schaly will both attend the CCAO Winter Conference in Columbus from Dec. 8-10. The total estimated expense is $1,075.
County Auditor Cindy Funk was authorized to issue a warrant for an invoice with Johnson Auto Body for $489.23.
Ashland Tractor Sales will provide the steel truck bed to modify a maintenance truck for salting county parking lots.
Commissioners adopted the Indigent Defense Cost Recoupment policy for all cases with an appointment date of Jan. 1, 2022 or later.
Ashland County JFS hires new worker, commissioners appoint designee
Macie Kendall was hired at a social service worker 2 position at JFS beginning Dec. 13.
Commissioners also assigned the director of JFS for the year 2022 to serve as the County Board of Commissioners’ designee until Dec. 31, 2022.
With the November passage of the Human Services Levy, commissioners approved the suspension of the 0.60 mill levy for providing and maintaining senior citizens services effective Jan. 1, 2022. Immediately after, they approved and entered into a five-year contract with the Ashland County Council on Aging to provide and maintain senior citizens services. Council will receive 50% of the amount generated by the newly-passed 2.00-mill levy after county auditor and county treasurer fees.
UP NEXT The commissioners will meet Thursday, Dec. 16 at 9 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public, but also live-streamed on the Ashland, OH County Government Facebook page.
This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland County Commissioners listen to budget presentations
