By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners announced the promotion of former fiscal officer Christie Roan as the new Job and Family Services (JFS) Director.
Her term began immediately as of March 3, 2026. Chosen from 13 applicants, she will be replacing Interim Director Vicki Blair and former Director Kylee Townes.
Commissioner President Scott Lirot and Terry Rummel were in attendance during the meeting held Tuesday.
The agenda was amended by Clerk Anne Retcher to include a letter from Hillside Country Living Nursing Home regarding their independent-living apartment complex ‘the Heights.’
The Heights offers 18 entirely independent living apartments for seniors 55 years or older. While it is interconnected with other assisted-living facilities on-site, the apartments themselves do not offer any nursing care.
The letter sent to the commissioners informed the board of the short on-hand cash balance. The balance is expected to turn negative in the coming months. This is largely due to the four apartments currently available for rent in the complex.
Representatives from Hillside requested “an inter-fund transfer” of continued payments not to exceed $75,000. The request is a precautionary measure for “in the event that revenue collected does not coincide with anticipated expenses which include invoices for goods and services as well as Debt Funding and Administrative Expenses.”
“If those three empties (apartments) would fill up it would put us in a much better cash position,” Lirot explained. “They really are nice places. Secure and a lot of good things about the place.”
Lirot continued to update the Board on enriching Hillside’s activity room. “We have a fund out there that people have donated money to, and it has to be spent on activities,” he stated. “It’s a good source of exercise that really helps people out.”
A pool table has been added as well as a shuffleboard on the way. With over $400,000 in the activity fund, the Commissioners are asking current residents what activities they would like to see within the facility.
“The Heights has never made hundreds of thousands of dollars a year,” mentioned Rummel. “It’s always done fine, break-even… they’ve hit a lull here where they needed some upgrades and also it’s just tough to move people in the winter.”
“I think it’s Williams County’s best-kept secret,” Lirot added. “It’s really is a village out there for people to live in where everybody knows everybody.”
In other business, a supplemental transfer was approved on behalf of Williams County Victim’s Assistance.
A purchase agreement was negotiated between Rush Truck Centers of Ohio and the Williams County Engineer for the purchase of a 2026 Ford F-550 at a cost not to exceed $101,492.00.
A subscription agreement was renewed between Regroup Mass Notification and Williams County Communications/EMA for Alert 86.
The subscription will last for one year at a cost not exceeding $12,452.00. It was noted that this cost is broken up between the county and participating municipalities and townships.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9:23 a.m.
For more local news, see Tornado Watch Issued For Williams & Fulton Counties Until 11:00 p.m..