PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
ELECTRIC RATES … Amy Hoffman of Palmer Energy Company updates the board on new aggregation prices for the 2026 contract.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met for their regular meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2025. After a Hillside monthly meeting held at 8:00 a.m., Commissioners Scott Lirot and Bart Westfall met in the Commissioners’ Session Room at 10:00 a.m.
The board formally called the meeting to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Commissioners approved the minutes from the September 14, 2025, session and adopted the agenda as presented.
Transfer appropriations were approved on behalf of the Commissioner’s Office, Board of Developmental Disabilities, Job and Family Services, Hillside County Living, Sheriff’s Office, and Veteran Services.
Project 7-2025 Pavement Marking was awarded to Griffin Pavement Striping. A notice to proceed was signed as well.
With a separate resolution, the Williams County Landbank was recognized as the lead entity designation.
This is for the purpose of filing and implementing the Brownfield Remediation Program application with the State of Ohio’s Department of Development and Building Demolition and Site Revitalization.
At 10:30 a.m., Amy Hoffman from Palmer Energy Company presented information on an updated electric aggregation renewal contract.
Williams County’s contract is set to end in December 2025, originally a two-year contract, with a new 12-month plan offered instead. This is to combat the rising energy prices as they change throughout the market.
West Unity, Stryker, and Edon Villages, alongside Center and Springfield township, are currently the only places in the county enrolled. The current contract was locked in at $0.06475 rate per kilowatt-hour. For about 2,000 eligible meters, it marked significant savings.
The new rate offered is $0.0877 kWh, with the market rate pricing provided on September 10, 2025.
“We always want to do what the best option is financially for the residents, counties, and small businesses,” Hoffman explained. “That’s why we’re doing quite a few aggregations right now.”
Residents of the areas that have approved aggregation can opt-out of the electric rates as needed. Those with third-party companies will not be affected.
“There is a small number of residents that this will affect. All you are doing is giving them an option, not forcing them to sign up,” Westfall said. The commissioners later signed a contract renewal agreement.
A health insurance review was held with Commissioner President Terry Rummel, Vickie Grimm, and Administrator Vond Hall. “Vickie has spent an exhaustive amount of time coming up with an analysis for us,” Rummel states.
Grimm went on to explain health insurance potential changes and new plans that commissioners could choose to select. “The request was to compare what our renewal will be compared to Option One – which is an increase of the Silver Plan Deductible to $1000.”
After much discussion, the commissioners focused on what would be the most cost-effective for the county while also maintaining reliable and affordable insurance for its employees. They ultimately approved Option One with a motion by Rummel.
The meeting adjourned at 11:51 a.m. with no further business.