(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
HOUSING PROGRESS …The Port Authority presents its ongoing progress on tackling the Williams County housing deficit.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Williams County Board of Commissioners met on Wednesday, May 15, in the Commissioners’ Session Room following the scheduled Hillside monthly meeting. The regular session was called to order at 9:30 a.m. with all members present.
Following the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call, the board swiftly moved through approvals of previous meeting minutes and the payment of bills.
President Rummel moved to amend the agenda to include an executive meeting to discuss an ongoing property topic involving the Port Authority. Clerk Anne Retcher moved to include an additional resolution as well.
Under new business, the Board approved the appropriations of funds for the Engineer’s Office. The new resolution, Resolution 25-0226, determines the disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit personal property, particularly involving five unused vehicles from the sheriff’s department.
This includes: two 2017 Ford Tauruses, a 2016 Ford Explorer, a 2006 Ford F-250, and a 2010 Ford F-150. The vehicles will be available for purchase on the GovDeals website, and locals are permitted a walk-through upon request. The commissioners hope to be able to display said vehicles at the East Annex, for easier access for the residents.
Also noted were several routine matters:
-Dog Warden’s Weekly Report from May 5 to 11.
-Authorization for JFS to appoint a payroll designee, Vicki Blair, in the director’s absence.
-Approval of the May 2025 prosecutor’s credit card expenditures.
-Issuance of 19 work permits within the county and townships on behalf of Charter Communications.
At 10:30 a.m., the commissioners received a Port Authority projection update with Dave Newcomer and associates. The Port Authority focuses on buying and selling single-family homes in the Williams County area.
They note a potential land acquisition with a placeholder of $600,000 – a significant number. With potentially good news coming in September, they continue to make progress on the Fountain Creek Senior Living complex. With a planned 54 units to build, it would make a substantial dent in the Williams County housing deficit.
The Port Authority continues to buy plots of land for future endeavors; averaging around two lots per quarter. Based on the study they conducted a year ago, the county is in a housing deficit of over 350 homes.
With fifteen homes sold, and more on the market currently, they are steadily working towards resolving this issue for the community.
With hopes that the Fountain Creek Senior Living complex project continues as planned, they are estimating to remove a third of the deficit in two to three years.
They came to the commissioners to respectfully request for a third installment of funds. Rummel mentioned that he appreciates the hard work and dedication for workforce housing. He moved to pass a motion to give the Port Authority $350,000 for necessary funds.
“I wouldn’t call what you are doing a drop in the bucket,” Commissioner Lirot said, “It’s pretty incredible that somebody stepped up to build 16 houses. No one else is building 16 houses.”
The board then moved into an executive session with the Port Authority to have a discussion on property issues, effectively ending the May 15 public meeting.