(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
LICENSE TAX … Kevin Schafer speaks in favor of the proposed license fee increase, asking the Commissioners to continue maintain the roads as is.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met on June 26th for their regularly scheduled session, starting the morning in the Defiance County Commissioners’ Office.
They then joined together at 10:00 a.m. for a joint ditch meeting. They covered a wide range of agenda items from infrastructure updates, board reappointments, and funding discussions.
The meeting opened with routine matters, including roll call, the approval of minutes, and the payment of bills. Commissioners also reviewed the agenda before moving into a series of new and ongoing business items.
A brief update was given on the North Annex project, following a design discussion with representatives from Garmann Miller the day prior. The update included feedback on architectural and operational planning efforts.
Several resolutions were considered throughout the morning, including appropriations for various county departments. The reappointment of members to the Williams County Airport Authority Board followed, as well as a new appointment for the ADAMhs Board.
Other notable agenda items included a funding request from the recorder’s office for credit card appropriations for the month of July, and a formal thank-you to the Madison Township Trustees for their efforts to accommodate an EMS unit.
Additional correspondence from the Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) noted an award received by the Northwest Township Community Center related to ADA parking project improvements.
A second public hearing was held this week as the county commissioners continued evaluating a proposed permissive $5 increase license plate tax.
This tax would apply to all vehicle registrations within the county, with revenue set specifically for local road and bridge repairs and construction. Williams County Engineer, Todd Roth, explains, “It’s all about quality roads.”
Sherry Fleming spoke out from the audience. She raised concerns about the recent influx of Amish traffic, and the damage their buggies do to the roadways.
“I feel like it’s unfair for the average person who has a car, to pay the same thing as somebody else who is hauling thousands of pounds of liquid manure,” she states, referencing how some of the Amish community disposes of their waste.
Roth mentions that he has been in contact with a neighboring county in Ohio – Holmes County. They have a system put into place where they collect donations from the Amish through a “liaison of church and state.”
He seemed interested in pursuing similar action in Williams County but noted that a process like this takes some time to set up.
Kevin Schafer states, “I think our infrastructure is the lifeblood of our community. We are never going to be able to maintain what we are and grow to be better. It’s important we keep up with our investment and what it costs to do things.”
After both public hearings, the commissioners had gathered enough information and public intel to make a decision.
Resolution 25-0296 was passed, permitting the Williams County Engineer’s to place it on the ballot in the following election period.
The meeting concluded with reminders of upcoming events and meetings across the regions, including policy development breakfasts, CEBCO Board meetings, and several county office closures in early July for the holiday.