By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met on July 22, 2025 in the Commissioners’ session room. The meeting began at 8:30 a.m. with a quarterly update from the Board of Elections. Commissioners Rummel, Westfall, and Lirot were in attendance at the meeting.
A letter sent from Williams County Jobs and Family Service (JFS) prompted extensive discussion amongst the board. Facing a severe budgeting crisis, JFS is requesting additional support from the county to sustain operations throughout the end of the year.
The agency projects a winter shortfall exceeding $500,000, though actual figures remain uncertain due to the unpredictable number of children entering their care.
The commissioners noted that approximately $586,000 has been transferred to JFS to help prepare for the financial challenges ahead. By October, the agency anticipates entering a negative cash balance.
To continue operations, JFS is requesting a $500,000 contract, comprising two $250,000 housing placement agreements, to cover anticipated child placement costs in November and December.
Christie Roan, Fiscal Officer for JFS, projects deficits of $265,000 in November and $250,000 in December of 2025.
While Roan estimates an ever-changing $250,000 shortfall overall, a full half million is being requested up front to ensure coverage.
This amount will be enough to get them to the end of the 2025 year, and it was clarified that the given funds will only be used on an as-needed basis.
JFS may only use half, all, or even require more funds in the future. The proposed contracts do not guarantee available beds but serve as a payment guarantee if housing is required. “But if Roan needs it, we’re on the hook for $500,000,” Westfall noted.
County Administrator Vond Hall explained that a county guarantee is necessary for the auditor to certify the contracts. “The auditor cannot certify any contracts if she had no reason to believe the money is there to pay it back.”
Since JFS is currently unable to front any money, the county must guarantee the funds for the contracts to proceed. “They do not need the cash today; they might not even use the contracts. It’s only if they need it,” he emphasized.
JFS has already reallocated internal appropriations to cover $100,000 of the projected deficit, but the remaining shortfall requires County intervention. No further assistance is expected from the state.
President Rummel highlighted that Williams County continues to see a higher rate of children in foster care than surrounding counties, attributing part of the crisis to prior administrative failure.
“Roan is just cleaning up the mess that this office allowed to happen for years, that I personally fought for years.
Rummel continued, “It’s a slow gap; it’s going to get better. It’s got to get better – we are not able to sustain this. When we started down this path, I said it’s not going to be cheap. And it’s not.”
Commissioners also expressed concern over the broader fiscal burden on the county. “We are still committing half a million dollars of the county’s money for a state agency.”
“Why are we funding a state agency?” Westfall questioned. “We already give them the $400,000 they require every year. Why is the county funding this above our requirements without the state stepping in?”
Rummel responded that the county is legally obligated to house children in its custody. He further explained that while the state matches the county’s $400,000 annual payment, bringing total funding to $800,000 yearly for JFS, those figures are outdated and do not reflect current costs or inflation. “The Ohio Revised Code does not allow us to step away from this problem,” he added.
As the board continued its discussion, the volume of children entering foster care raised questions. Commissioners debated whether too many removals were occurring in unwarranted cases, though acknowledging their limited oversight in this situation. “We are faced with either trusting Roan or riding with her to visitations ourselves,” Rummel noted.
“So, we don’t have a choice?” Westfall asked. “I think we have a choice,” Rummel responded, “When we go to lunch with Jim Hoops and Rob McColley, we have choices to ring their bells and ask, ‘What are we going to do?’ It forces us to escalate this to a higher level of funding.”
The commissioners will make their decision on signing the proposed contract at a future meeting.
Several resolutions were passed at the Tuesday morning meeting, including the finalization of switching the designation of finances of the County’s public depositories.
The MVPO sent several mortgage releases and UCC liens that were passed with no contest from the board.
This included Oberlin Farms Demolition and Recycling LLC, and also on behalf of Fackler Properties LLC, KDO Investments LLC, and Hometown Meat Market, LLC.
A future commissioner meeting was scheduled for September 9, 2025 to be held at the Williams County Fairgrounds. The board will provide coffee and doughnuts, and invites community members to attend to get a first-hand look at small town government processes.
A permit was approved for DEEDS of Defiance, Fulton County Democrats, and Williams County Indivisible Alliance for a peaceful protest of democracy on August 2, 2025.
Commissioners noted that any protests taking place on the square must request permits, as several were held over the weekend with no information presented to the county. This process is upheld to ensure the safety and fairness to all who peacefully protest in Williams County.
The meeting adjourned at 9:54 a.m., followed by an 11:00 a.m. site visit at the Pioneer Senior Center, presented by the Department of Aging.