PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE | THE VILLAGE REPORTER
PROGRAM INFORMATION … MVPO Representatives explain the annual CDBG Program assistance and guidelines during their public hearing.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Board of Commissioners held its third regular meeting of the year on January 13, 2026. The meeting opened at 9:00 a.m. with Commissioner Vice President Bart Westfall and Terry Rummel present.
Commissioners first approved the minutes from the January 8, 2026, meeting and the agenda as presented. Under old business, the Board approved the payment of bills.
A resolution accepting a $10,000 funding contribution from Parkview Bryan Hospital was approved. As quoted in Resolution 26-0044, “The hospital is pleased to partner with the Williams County Department of Aging to provide 2026 funding in the amount of $10,000 for the Williams County Department of Aging Nutrition Program.”
“The funds will be paid on a quarterly basis. “Thank you to the hospital director for helping us with our seniors,” Westfall said.
An additional funding agreement award for the department was accepted as part of the “Older Americans Act Program” in the total amount of $172,290.33.
Concerning the Department of Aging, Rummel provided an update about funding issues within the Pioneer Senior Center.
“We are trying to evolve the center because we are running on 2005 money with their levy. We chose last time, since it’s such a volatile situation, to try and get levies improved, to keep it flat. Everyone knows that since 2005 how wages and food costs have went up.
“In 2023, I would tell you that the Senior Center lost about $125,000. In 2024, they spent $340,000 more than they brought in – that’s a rough number.
“The good news is, we have been really frugal, and we have started with a hefty balance…but they are running out of money,” he explained.
Rummel continues to state that potential budget cuts for food and staffing are underway at the Pioneer Center.
The community is taking it in stride and has already offered to provide discounted or donated lunches, such as area churches and the Pioneer Meat Market, at about $5.00 per person.
A wellness agreement grant was entered into with the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio (CEBCO) and the county for the provision of grant funds in the amount of $12,160 to promote wellness.
A personnel policy revision regarding sick leave was also amended, as it was “inadvertently modified and was not the intent of the board that was working of the PPM.”
A resolution was passed, requested by Rummel, giving Commissioner President Lirot his voting rights within the Williams County Land Bank.
Now, Lirot and Westfall are the only members on the board who have the rights. An agreement to enter and issue a notice to proceed for Project 9-2025 was approved, which involved the CR 11 Bridge Deck Replacement with Zachrich Construction.
The board reaffirmed appointments to the Williams County Transportation Improvement District. All current members were reappointed.
At 9:30 a.m., commissioners entered into an executive session to discuss compensation requests, requested by Commissioner Rummel.
They returned with no action at 10:00 a.m. for a meeting with the Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO). A public hearing was held by the MVPO regarding the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program.
They provided a comprehensive guide on how communities could apply for grants such as Allocation, Critical Infrastructure, Residential Public Infrastructure, Downtown, and FLEX programs.
Administrators from both the Village of Pioneer and the Village of West Unity were present, alongside WEDCO Director Ashely Epling.
With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m.