PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
WILLIAMS COUNTY GROWTH … Ashley Epling of WEDCO updates the economic recap with the commissioners, noting a strong foundation in place to attract new businesses for the county’s growth.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Board of Commissioners met Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, in the Commissioners’ Session Room to accept the abrupt resignation of the Job and Family Services (JFS) Director Kylee Towne.
A resolution accepting Towne’s resignation was added to the agenda after an executive session held among the commissioners.
In attendance at the meeting were President Scott Lirot, Bart Westfall, and Terry Rummel. Her resignation was approved effective immediately as of January 23, 2026. No additional details were presented at the time.
A preliminary meeting focusing on RC Schedules and Public Records Requests was held with Attorney Conover, Juvenile and Probate Judge Karen Gallagher, and Prosecutor Katie Zartman.
The general session began with routine approvals: accepting the minutes from the January 13, 2026 session, and amending the agenda to include an addition of two resolutions. The payment of bills was also approved.
Several resolutions were passed under new business as follows:
-An agreement with OhioMHAS – Cornell Abraxes Group, LLC for Title IV-E Agencies for child placement.
-An agreement with Family Services and Community Teaching Homes, INC. for Title IV-E Agencies for child placement.
The release and cancellation of a mortgage and UCC lien related to the Community Development Block Grant Economic Development (CDBG) Revolving Loan Fund Agreement was approved.
The business Cookies on Demand, with Rebecca and Ronald Freese, entered the agreement to support a real estate acquisition in Montpelier, Ohio.
Commissioner Lirot was authorized to “execute all necessary documents to formally release the mortgage recorded in county records.”
Jesse Brumbaugh, Assistant Chief of Williams County EMS, submitted a recommendation to increase ambulance transport charges.
The commissioners opted to approve the motion with an updated Ambulance Transport Fee Schedule. The new schedule reads as follows:
-Non-Emergency Transports: $750.00
-Emergency-Basic Life Transport: $1,000.00
-Advanced Life Support I: $1,500.00
-Advanced Life Support II: $1,700.00
-Loaded Mileage Rate: $15.00 per mile
-Treat No Transport (refusal, assessment): $250.00. The only schedule fees changed were the “Treat No Transport,” for which the price increased from $100.000 to $250.000.
At 9:30 a.m., a Williams County Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO) recap and economic update was held with Director Ashley Epling.
The update highlighted confirmed business commitments across the county, including $93.2 million in total capital investment, the creation of 318 jobs, and $17.6 million in new annual payroll. The average annual wage of $55,290.
Epling also updated the Commissioners on new industrial development efforts, noting that the county is marketing 17 potential sites.
The sites range from vacant land and existing buildings under both private and public ownership.
“Site selectors are looking for every reason not to choose us,” quoted Epling, “and it can be as simple as not knowing what infrastructure a site has, what improvements will cost, or how long those upgrades will take.”
She emphasized the importance of early planning and infrastructure readiness, explaining that site selectors evaluate communities based on speed, risk, and cost.
At 10:00 a.m., a Wellness recap and update was held with Deputy Clerk Robin Kemp. Kemp spoke about the recent low attendance of participating employees for the county-offered wellness program.
Offered through their insurance, employees can reach certain incentives by practicing preventive care.
“The whole intention of wellness is for keeping our rates down as much as we can. That’s going to factor in the ratings provided,” said Westfall.
“It’s all about the employee building a relationship with their medical provider,” explained Administrator Vond Hall.
The commissioners will continue to brainstorm other ideas to help draw their employees into this program.
At 10:30 a.m., the Board met with Executive Director, Pastor Mike Kelly, with the Sanctuary to discuss the alley space behind the building.
An art gallery of murals has already been created, and Pastor Kelly wished to elevate the space even more.
The alley includes around 1000 square feet of space. “We would like to take that space and put something (like) picnic tables out there, and encourage all of those who smoke to move in that direction.
“We won’t order them to, but I think we can make it attractive enough,” commented Kelly.
This is not the first time Pastor Kelly has presented this idea to the Board of Commissioners.
He was met with resistance from several officials due to the building’s close proximity to county-operated sites, such as the Records Department and Job and Family Services.
“We own the property,” says Rummel. “If this group of commissioners are interested in it, then I would highly encourage bringing that same group (of officials) back to the table.
“I think there is some better funding and some better things we can do to make it look even more attractive and make it a more pleasurable place for the children living in the sanctuary.”
Kelly updated the Board on several plans to continue making the area look better and better. “We try to do everything so the city benefits,” he says.
“We’ve always had a great-looking building downtown, and I think we made it a more attractive building. Everything we try to do, we do in the name of Christ as best as we can afford to do.”
The commissioners agreed to schedule a walkthrough of the alley and collaborate with all parties involved in an agreement.
With no further business, an executive session was entered at 11:00 a.m. with Kylee Towne, JFS Director. The meeting was adjourned directly after.
The next commissioners’ meeting is scheduled for January 27, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.