Paul Barnaby chaired his final Board of Commissioners meeting Dec. 29 and shared a few thoughts to close the session.
Barnaby has been on the board for the past 16 years and decided not to run for reelection in 2016. He was the longest-serving commissioner in recent memory, county officials said.
Barnaby stood up and addressed the audience. He recalled and expressed thanks for his colleagues past and present on the board and welcomed the man who will take his spot on the board, Jon Rupp.
He scanned over the room and talked about various people in attendance and for those who are away, such as Administrator Vond Hall, who took vacation to be with his family, an action that impressed Barnaby.
“He’s the age of my son, but he’s the person I have respected the whole time,” Barnaby said. “He works at home, he works here. I really appreciate him.”
In other news, the board:
Approved a contract with Republic Services to collect scrap metal at $195 per haul of a 30-yard container. This was the only bid received after being twice advertised.
Republic’s limits on 30-yard containers deal with safety and the increased number of such containers.
The alternative was to allow the scrap metal to be placed in a landfill. The county will get some money in return from the sale of the scrap by Republic.
Approved amending the policy concerning employees who had been on leave of absence or rehired to be able to immediately be covered by health insurance upon returning. The board maintained the policy requiring part-time workers who were promoted to full time to wait 30 days before coverage would begin.
Supported a study of a regional water system through Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments. The source would be Lake Erie and there would be a uniform water supply agreement and a cooperative partnership that provides for a “meaningful governing operation and prices.”
The move has no downside, Utilities Director Ziad Musallam said.
“We are just supporting an evaluation,” Musallam said. “The county has the option to get water elsewhere.”
Approved $43,300 for the Maple Street project in Lyons and a change order that decreased the amount to $40,621.
James Pruitt may be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com