ADDRESSING COMMISSIONERS … 4H representatives Janis Montgomery and Jeff Dick with Egg Society members Dave Page and Matt Kennedy addressing the Williams County Commissioners. (PHOTO BY ANNA WOZNIAK / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Anna Wozniak
The Williams County Commissioners held a busy session on May 18, 2023. Present were Commissioners Lew Hilkert, Bart Westfall, and Terry Rummel.
The commissioners began their morning by first approving eight resolutions, moving on then to sign additional documents that have already been approved, before approving the minutes of the May 15, 2023 regular session and bills as presented by the Williams County auditor.
The resolutions approved appropriations requests, contracts, contract amendments and extensions, and the bid award for the Project 5 Bridge Replacement.
Then held was discussion over the awarding of available funds to county projects that submitted applications.
There were two categories of funding awarded, the first to Edgerton to help alleviate the issues they face with their LMI requirements, and the second to Stryker to help them handle the water tower maintenance issues they currently face.
The Commissioners listened to Roy Rozell, of Montpelier, as he questioned how the installation of the new fish farm in Pioneer can be trusted to follow requirements and standards when these standards have issues with being enforced.
He lives near Bridgewater Dairy in Montpelier and reports that multiple rounds of testing have shown that damages to his property can be directly attributed to compounds that are supposed to be regulated, but receives mixed answers when he inquires as to who he is supposed to contact to resolve the issues.
He was inquiring about how these standards for big business matter when there is a “back and forth” between who is responsible for ensuring these standards are met.
The Commissioners promised Roy that they would look into who was responsible for ensuring this gets taken care of, with a conversation with the County Engineer being very likely in the commissioners’ future.
The Commissioners excited recess at 10:28 a.m. to hear from representatives from the Egg Society and 4H regarding an outstanding balance on new construction.
Original funding plans fell through, as COVID and the avian flu have made it hard for the Egg Society to raise funds.
Addressing council was Janis Montgomery (4H), Jeff Dick (4H), Dave Page (Egg Society), and Matt Kennedy (Egg Society).
The Egg Society is looking into finding funding for the outstanding balance moving forward and are expected to update the commissioners as soon as they can.
Anna can be reached at anna@thevillagereporter.com
