By: Anna Wozniak
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
The Williams County Mayor’s Association met on October 18, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. They began by approving the minutes of September’s meeting and the financial statements as presented, and then waived the December meeting.
They then were addressed by Williams County Commissioner Terry Rummel, who wanted to discuss an important issue prevalent in Williams County.
Commissioner Rummel then introduced the honorable judge Karen Gallagher, who presides over the Juvenile and Probate Divisions of the Williams County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Gallagher then started describing the tasks the two divisions she presides over entail on a daily basis, discussing what each Division covers.
The Williams County Common Pleas Court website summarizes the Williams County Juvenile Court as handling matters relating to “juvenile delinquency and unruly cases; juvenile traffic offenses; abuse, neglect and dependency cases; truancy, paternity, custody and child support actions; failure to send child(ren) to school (Adults) cases; and contributing to the delinquency/unruliness of a minor (Adults) cases.”
The Williams County Common Pleas Court website shares that the Probate Court “handles all filings and hearings for the admission of wills; the administration of decedents’ estates; applications for and administration of guardianships and conservatorships; adoptions; adult protective services actions; birth registrations and corrections; complaints for civil actions; disinterment; mental illnesses; minor settlement cases; name changes; testamentary trusts; and wrongful death actions. Additionally, this Court issues marriage licenses.”
The first issue Gallagher expounded on is the plight of those suffering from adult wards of the state with deteriorating mental health being charged with crimes by local law enforcement.
There have been instances where those under adult guardianships will be found uncooperative with law enforcement, when in reality they suffer from severe mental deterioration.
Judge Gallagher shared that a solution to this is being worked on with Representative Jim Hoops, and together with Commissioner Rummel they are hoping to see the implementation of a state-wide addition to the information available to police.
This addition would be in the form of putting the information of the guardian of the adult ward on their records, so that in the case that legal issues arise, someone with full mental competency will be contacted to advocate for the ward.
Oftentimes, the guardians do not know that anything happened with their ward until bills are sent for legal fees.
The next issue expounded on by Judge Gallagher is one without a pending remedy.
The drug crisis in Williams County has taken off -with heroin, meth, and fentanyl poisoning generations of Ohioans. Judge Gallagher shared how this increase in drug use has multiplied the trauma experienced by at-risk children.
More crimes are perpetrated against children when drugs -specifically meth, fentanyl, and heroin- are involved.
As Judge Gallagher saw more and more children severely affected by drug abuse, she knew something had to be done.
With Rule 32, The Williams County Court of Common Pleas founded the “Williams County Drug Court Program,” also known as “Drug Court.”
While working within Drug Court, Judge Gallagher saw many dire needs go unaddressed.
Many secular support systems traditionally provided by social work offices simply did not exist, and many who faced battling addiction found themselves doing it primarily alone. This has resulted in a cycle of trauma that affects generations at a time.
There have been issues keeping our social work office, Job and Family Services of Williams County, fully staffed.
This, among other stressors related to being a social worker, has made it difficult for those in need in Williams County to be able to rely on social workers to be around to help them.
That is why the Williams County Court of the Common Pleas has stepped up, offering many social services that the community was sorely missing.
As Judge Gallagher put it, she realized her office needed “to be doers,” and “not rely on other agencies that may have failed us,” unable to do nothing while witnessing babies be born drug addicted and children be neglected due to drug use.
“With our kids, we don’t have time to wait,” said Gallagher, “we don’t have time to get it right, we have to get it right now.”
Not only is there still a lot of work to be done with remedying the issue, but there is also a lot of denial around it as well.
“Many people don’t realize the severity of the drug problem in their own community and tend to think it’s only an issue in larger cities like Toledo,” shared Gallagher.
With crimes being committed by children who are younger and younger, it is apparent that something needs to change, which is why Judge Gallagher is helping to found a Divert Program to get kids away from crime and drug use.
Drug Court has been extremely successful, with “second chances coming out of there all the time,” shared Commissioner Terry Rummel, but social services need to be more prevalent within the community so that the combined impact can be large enough to mediate this crisis.
Commissioner Hilkert then shared that there will be a “Williams County 200” celebration in honor of the 200th year of incorporation, as Williams County was officially organized in 1824.
This is also to make up for the 200th founding anniversary that was canceled due to the pandemic. The celebration will happen the 19-21 of April, with a closing ceremony in Montpelier on the 21st.
There will also be a celebratory Commissioners’ Meeting on June 7, 2024, in honor of the first ever Commissioners’ meeting that happened on June 7, 1824.
Bill’s Locker Room will have merchandise commemorating the event, and all living prior commissioners that have served Williams County will be invited to attend.
Hilkert then shared that Cup of Joy in Edgerton will see a Commissioners on the Road meeting, wherein everyone is welcome to come have a cup of coffee at 8:30 a.m. with the commissioners that strive to serve them.
The Williams County Mayors’ Association then adjourned the meeting held at Shelly’s Diner at 7:33 p.m.
