SUMMER CONSTRUCTION The county will be repairing county roads 2 5 7 10 12 13 15 16 20 24 50 65 and others with County Road 13 from Route 34 to Route 107 chip sealed and County Road 12 C and D repaved as part of a federal funding project Many bridges are set to undergo repair as well This includes bridges on Route 76 County Road 11 downstream of the Lake Seneca dam County Road 13 and County Road K which is pictured here
By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
anna@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Commissioners met regularly last week on Tuesday and Thursday, with Tuesday starting out at 8 a.m. with an executive session that produced the approval of a transfer request for personnel changes at the Coroner’s Office.
At 9 a.m., they approved Resolution 24-0195, which approved supplemental appropriations. They then signed a letter from the Board of Elections requesting approval for the transfer of $11,254 for the new voting equipment maintenance agreement.
A Maumee Valley request for pay, the minutes from May 23rd, and the bills as presented were approved and signed.
Thursday began at 8 a.m. with a meeting to discuss grant funds with Judge Karen Gallagher, who was pleased to share that the 2024 Technology Grant application, that was given a less-than 30-day application project, was accepted, with the largest grant amount of $150,000 awarded for specific uses.
A lot of these uses are for technological improvements at the courthouse, with funds being able to be applied to much needed case management systems and advanced hearing devices.
There is a tight schedule for the funds, with a two-week turnaround period. Strict recording requirements will need to be followed, and all funds must be spent by May 2025.
Another case management system grant is being pursued, with the decision still incoming. It was shared that Kim Herman is retiring this year, a new Clerk of Courts will be appointed, and a new judge might be sworn-in in January after the election.
It was said that the implementation of these new programs might be better done in a staggered manner, perhaps giving a 6-month adjustment period for payments.
Research is still being done into contractual agreements for maintenance support for the courts, and substantial funds have been saved by putting both courts in the same data conversion.
Resolution 24-0197 then approved the grant award agreement for Judge Gallagher, and it was shared that the final numbers have yet to be fully known, with some costs expected to be reduced.
They then approved Resolution 24-0196 at around 9 a.m., which approved supplemental appropriations for the Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division, the Board of Elections, the Department of Aging, JFS, and the Sheriff’s Office.
This included the $11,254 for the new voting equipment maintenance agreement, which Commissioner Rummel shared was looked into extensively.
He went back five years ago and looked into the agreements, to make sure that everything was on track. It has also been shared that officials have since made reminders throughout the next few years to make sure that the equipment replacement expected to take place in 5 years’ time is handled correctly.
They signed a critical infrastructure grant, a well as the Montpelier storm sewer project scope and budget, adding the credit card appropriations for June, the Dog Warden report through May 26th, and the development program scope and budget for the Edgerton Oak Street project, a mortgage release, minutes from the Department of Aging, A Maumee Valley request for pay, a CHIP rental agreement, the minutes from Tuesday’s meeting, and the bills as presented by the auditor.
A proclamation was then read in honor of Helen Stewart’s 100th birthday on June 3rd before the commissioners entered recess.
At 10 a.m., they met with the Engineer’s Office, where it was shared that the county is on track to repair multiple roads and bridges this summer season, with the heat expected to help lock in the chip seal repair method before its time to plow.
The county will be repairing county roads 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 20, 24, 50, 65, and others, with County Road 13 from Route 34 to Route 107 chip sealed and County Road 12-C and D repaved as part of a federal funding project.
Many bridges are set to undergo repair as well. This includes bridges on Route 76, County Road 11 (downstream of the Lake Seneca dam), County Road 13, and County Road K.
A higher number of roads than usual will be undergoing this process throughout the month of June, with funds not being available for their full repair until 2027.