ARCHIVE PHOTO / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
WATER … After a lengthy process, the commissioners entered into a contract with the Village of Lyons and Maguire Iron, Inc. on Thursday for the replacement of the water tower. A combination of CDBG Funds and the Revolving Loan Fund is being used to fund the project.
By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Commissioners met for regular sessions on Tuesday, May 12, and Thursday, May 14, with several grants, development, infrastructure, and airport-related items addressed by the board.
The May 12 meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, prayer, and roll call. Commissioners then approved the minutes from May 7, the agenda, and payment of bills.
The board reviewed proof of service of notice for Annexation 2026-1 involving the Village of Delta before turning to discussion on the county’s CDBG Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund committee.
Dennis Miller said the committee needs to be reconstructed, explaining that it had originally been appointed by the Regional Planning Commission when that agency handled the Revolving Loan Fund program.
Miller said the committee previously had about 20 members, which he described as unworkable, and said the county would like the group to have no more than five to seven members.
He also said state guidelines have been updated, and county officials would like to review and revise the county’s 2014 guidelines before returning to the commissioners with updated recommendations and proposed committee members.
The commissioners then approved appropriation requests for various departments, authorized submission of applications for 2026 CDBG funds to the Ohio Department of Development, canceled the June 11 session, entered into Contract 2026-49 with Damschroder Roofing for the Robert Fulton Building roof project, and approved purchase orders and travel requests.
After a brief recess, Miller returned to provide additional information on two waiver requests involving the Revolving Loan Fund and the county land bank.
He said the requests involved the Elks Lodge in Swanton and the hotel at the interchange on State Route 108, with MVPO having received requests for asbestos inspection and phase one environmental studies.
Miller said each project would need $8,000, for a total waiver request of $16,000 from the Revolving Loan Fund to the land bank. The commissioners then approved the waiver request to the Ohio Department of Development.
Nikki Reese of MVPO also addressed the board regarding CDBG Flex funding for the Senior Center access road off East Leggett Street.
Reese said the Ohio Department of Development had asked whether Fulton County still wanted to pursue the project, noting that the pre-application had been submitted in July of last year. Rupp said the county was still interested in moving forward.
The board also held a second hearing for the CHIP program. Liz Keel said the program includes Henry County, Fulton County, the City of Napoleon, and the City of Wauseon.
The total application amount is $1.4 million, with $400,000 going to both Henry and Fulton counties, and $300,000 going to both Napoleon and Wauseon.
The funds would be used for rehabilitation, home repairs, administration, and fair housing. The application is due June 24, with a notice of award expected December 1 and final performance due April 30, 2029. The meeting adjourned at 9:23 a.m.
The commissioners met again on May 14. The board approved the May 12 minutes and the day’s agenda before reviewing the county investment report.
Commissioners approved appropriation changes for several departments, including a $5,000 increase for real estate supplies tied to revaluation letters, a $392.84 increase for the county share of the Sixth District Court of Appeals, a $600 transfer within the appellate court account, and a $65 transfer within the Local Emergency Planning Committee account.
The board also approved payment request number one to K&B Asphalt Sealcoating, Inc. for the 2026 Fulton County Crack Seal Program.
The payment totaled $39,755.52 and was approved after review by County Engineer Frank Onweller and the prevailing wage coordinator.
Commissioners then authorized the board president to execute a request for release of grant funds and certification for the Ability Center/Home/Building Repair project through PY2024 CDBG Grant 25NR-1AX-25CDBG. The board also approved FAA sponsor certifications for FY 2025 grant projects and approved purchase orders and travel requests.
Several airport-related items were tabled for more discussion. The board tabled action on awarding the bid for the airport T-hangar and taxilane project, the FY 2026 Airport Infrastructure Grant application for the T-hangar construction phase, the FY 2026 Airport Improvement Program Grant application for the taxilane construction phase, and a proposed contract with Crawford, Murphy, and Tilly for professional engineering services tied to the T-hangar and taxilane project.
The commissioners also approved the Ohio Public Utilities Commission governmental aggregation recertification application.
The resolution states that the PUCO requires electric governmental aggregators to renew their applications every two years, and the board authorized Board President Joe Short to execute the application.
Later in the meeting, commissioners approved Contract 2026-51 with the Village of Lyons and Maguire Iron, Inc. for the Lyons Water Tower Replacement Project.
According to the resolution, Maguire Iron had previously been awarded the project on January 27 through Resolution 2026-75, with the project amount listed at $2,454,000.
Fulton County agreed to assist the Village of Lyons by providing $370,000 in CDBG funds through Grant Number B-X-24-1AX-1, along with an additional $100,000 from the Revolving Loan Fund.
Auditor certifications included in the packet show the $370,000 amount tied to fund number 2773-17919-5-42100 and the $100,000 amount tied to fund number 2706-17910-5-43000. The tower is set to be replaced in 2027.
