By: Renea Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
renea@thevillagereporter.com
The Fulton County Board of Commissioners held its regular session on Thursday morning, July 10, 2025. Commissioners Joe Short and Jon Rupp attended to address an agenda covering financial appropriations, public health project approvals, and a ditch improvement project.
After the Pledge of Allegiance and opening prayer, the board approved the minutes from the July 8th session and adopted the agenda.
Routine reports were reviewed, including updates from the county dog warden for the weeks of June 7th and June 14th, as well as a comprehensive investment report.
A primary item was Resolution 2025-453, which authorized appropriation transfers across multiple departments.
Approximately $25,000 was moved from the General Fund into specific accounts for community development, housing rehabilitation, gas tax operations, and juvenile detention improvements. An additional $25,000 was reallocated within the Fulton-Lucas Waterline budget.
For Ditch Improvement Project 2152, initiated by Rod Short and others, all submitted bids were rejected under Resolution 2025-454 based on the recommendation of County Engineer Frank Onweller due to necessary assessment revisions.
Resolution 2025-455 scheduled a new hearing for August to allow for further updates and notification of landowners.
In public health matters, Resolution 2025-456 authorized Draw #7, totaling $2,550, for the Lead Safe Ohio Program to fund renovations at a property in Liberty Center. The project, contracted through Midwest Tunez, LLC, is part of ongoing lead hazard reduction initiatives.
Resolution 2025-457 accepted a workers’ compensation claim for Andrea Coburn, a Swanton Senior Center site aide, who sustained a thumb injury while helping move a table. The claim was identified as medical-only with a restricted duty assigned through June 26th.
Resolution 2025-458, commissioners approved disbursement of domestic violence fund collections—sourced from marriage license and divorce filing fees—to the Center for Child and Family Advocacy.
These funds will support the “House of Ruth” shelter and represent the first installment for 2025, in accordance with a previous designation.
Finally, Resolution 2025-459 approved new purchase orders and travel requests. The session concluded with an investment update from Scott Gruber of CMT.
As of June 30th, the county’s investment portfolio totaled just over $99 million, with a weighted average yield of 3.28 percent and estimated annual income exceeding $1.67 million.