By: Rebecca Miller
During the Monday morning, August 9, 2021 Williams County Commissioners meeting, Commissioner Lew Hilkert mentioned that Sheriff Tom Kochert is hiring two new deputies as the department has had overtime running really high lately.
Hilkert said that when they did the math it works out that the Sheriff can curtail that overtime by 75% which would more than pay for one deputy.
Commissioner Terry Rummel added that it looks like they might be able to use the ARPs money to fund those two deputies through 2026, so at least for the short term they would be funded.
Another topic that was brought up by Rummel was the number of accidents that have been happening on Interstate 80.
He said that he met with Ferzan Ahmed, the Executive Director with the Ohio Turnpike, concerning the crashes on the toll road and Ahmed informed him that they are “making some pretty drastic steps by putting police officers, Ohio State Patrol, out there during the hot times which are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from ten to four.
They are going to try to slow people down a little sooner as they are still going seventy at exit thirteen. They are also working on an MOU with WC Engineer Todd Roth to use the county’s sign that tells people how fast they are going, flashing to try to slow them down before they enter that hot zone where the work is.”
Rummel continued, “He (Ahmed) did advise that at about a month and a half that section will be done. Then we will have two lanes going into Indiana which should clear this problem. It won’t be a full three years of this mess.”
“Because next year they are going to tear out the other section, they will still maintain two lanes going westbound and then go down to one lane coming eastbound, but they will just be coming out of the toll gate so they shouldn’t get up to speed.”
He added that hopefully these things will help cut down on the amount of traffic accidents that have been happening. Also the 911 dispatchers have been given access to the cameras on the toll road so they can monitor when there is an accident to help emergency vehicles get into the places faster and easier.
In regular business, the Commissioners approved:
-Resolution 275 Supplemental appropriations on behalf of WC Department of Aging, Engineer and JFS
-Resolution 276 Indigent Defense Fee/Cost Recoupment policy
-Also signed: letter to Vicki Grimm regarding Vacation Policy; Courthouse Permit Request from International Day of Peace Service for September 21, 2021; Recommendation for New Hire from Department of Aging
-Minutes for August 5, 2021 and payment of bills
Following a short recess, the Commissioners met with Bobbi Crisenberry to discuss “Live, Not Survive or Exist.” Crisenberry was there to request funding for her agency from COVID money.
After hearing her presentation, the Commissioners encouraged her to continue with the good work she has begun, but explained that at this time her agency would not qualify for the ARPs money.
They gave her some advise and recommendations to get to a point where her agency might be eligible to apply for government assistance.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com