PHOTO BY RENEA KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
CEBCO … Melissa Bodey gave her third-quarter update from CEBCO and will return soon with a fourth-quarter update.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners met for their regular session on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Commissioners Session Room.
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, an opening prayer, and roll call attendance.
The board reviewed and approved the minutes from the regular session held on February 5, 2026. Commissioners approved the agenda for the February 10 meeting as amended, as well as payment of the bills.
A series of financial actions were approved, including the establishment of a new account for office equipment maintenance, an increase of $5,414.36 for Coroner contract services, and multiple transfers between departmental accounts.
The board approved Amendment No. 10 to the lease with the U.S. Department of Agriculture for property at 8770 State Route 108, Suite B, Wauseon, extending the lease term through May 31, 2030.
Commissioners formally entered Contract 2026-17 with HIS Constructors, Inc. for the Pleasant View Waste Water Treatment Plant Replacement Project.
•Total contract amount: $1,535,849.00
•Project timeline: 210 days to substantial completion, 240 days to final completion
•Liquidated damages are established at $500 per day for delays
The board also approved a contract with Owens Community College on behalf of Adult Probation, an amendment with Schneider Downs on behalf of JFS, a contract with Creative Media for JFS, a reimbursement request for FFA Airport Improvement Grant, and execution of federal financial reports related to taxi lane and T-hanger projects.
The board voted to rescind Resolution 2026-099, which had declared all unincorporated areas of Fulton County restricted for utility-scale wind and solar projects.
The rescission was necessary because the required notifications to schools and townships had not been provided within the mandated timeframe.
Routine approval was granted for departmental purchase orders and travel requests before their 9:15 session with Melissa Bodey of CEBCO.
Melissa Bodey provided commissioners with an update on the county’s health insurance performance, emphasizing that Fulton County continues to run exceptionally well within the larger insurance pool.
She explained that the county’s 258 employees and 568 covered lives are part of a much larger group of more than 16,500 employees and 36,000 covered individuals across the CEBCO membership, giving the organization significant buying power when negotiating with Anthem and network providers.
Fulton County’s medical loss ratio for the third quarter was 78.3 percent, well below the overall CEBCO average of 104 percent, and notably, there were no large claims over the pooling point during the period.
Bodey said the county’s strong performance helps avoid the steep renewal increases seen elsewhere, noting that while some counties experienced double-digit hikes, Fulton County remained at the favorable end of the spectrum.
Breaking down claims activity, Bodey reported that about half of Fulton County’s costs came from outpatient services, with inpatient hospitalization representing only 12 percent due to the absence of major hospital stays.
She credited employees for doing the right things, such as participating in wellness challenges and maintaining relationships with primary care physicians, which helps keep people out of emergency rooms.
Only 39 potentially avoidable ER visits were recorded, representing about $21,000 in possible savings, a relatively low figure attributed to the county’s high-deductible HSA plan that encourages thoughtful use of care.
Prescription use increased 10 percent, with costs rising 17 percent due to new high-priced medications, but 86 percent of prescriptions were filled with generics, and nearly all eligible brand drugs were substituted with generics when available.
Bodey closed by noting Fulton County is “doing it right,” and said she would return soon with fourth-quarter figures once they become available.