[{"_1":2,"_95":-5,"_96":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,85],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6069051,"mediaKeyId","3076891-26db7b3e71cdb3379e9923239ceb170a","parentId",3076891,"title","Commissioners discuss short‑term EMA coverage, interim appointment and options to contract with neighboring counties","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",461300,"endMs",629560,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076891-26db7b3e71cdb3379e9923239ceb170a&start=461&end=629","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6069051/Ohio/Commissioners-discuss-shortterm-EMA-coverage-interim-appointment-and-options-to-contract-with-neighboring-counties","mediaUrl","author","Williams County OH","date","2025-03-20T00:00:00Z","article","The Williams County Board of Commissioners discussed short‑term coverage and organizational options for the county’s Emergency Management Agency after the departure of the EMA director.

A staff presenter outlined three options: (1) appoint an interim or temporary EMA director from within or hire a dedicated county employee; (2) establish a countywide EMA that would contract with townships, villages and the city; or (3) contract with a neighboring county to provide EMA services. The presenter said that if the county pursued a joint employee with a neighboring county, the board would need to confirm whether that neighboring county already maintained a countywide EMA and coordinate responsibilities.

Commissioners discussed timing and the need for a point of contact for state and federal partners and suggested meeting with a proposed interim candidate for a “meet and greet” followed by an executive session to discuss compensation. Commissioners identified Bolon/Bolton and Defiance counties as the only bordering options for a neighboring‑county contract, given Williams County’s geography.

One commissioner urged the board to “do something sooner than later” and suggested appointing a named staff member (Von) as an interim until longer‑term arrangements could be made. The board agreed to follow up with neighboring counties to explore whether shared services would be viable, and to schedule a meeting with the interim candidate as early as the following week.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Williams County Commissioners Meeting Audio 03/20/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Williams County commissioners reviewed options for providing an Emergency Management Agency (EMA) point of contact after the departure of the director, including appointing an interim from within, creating a countywide EMA, or contracting with a neighboring county; Bolton and Defiance were identified as bordering options.","taxTitle","Williams, Ohio","taxId",72240,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6069054,"Williams County Port Authority reports audit clearance, growth in housing projects and asks county for continued funding support",1750,1252575,3002965,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076891-26db7b3e71cdb3379e9923239ceb170a&start=1252&end=3002","/articles/6069054/Ohio/Williams-County-Port-Authority-reports-audit-clearance-growth-in-housing-projects-and-asks-county-for-continued-funding-support","Williams County Port Authority officials gave the commissioners a quarterly update on ongoing housing and development projects, financial oversight and a request for continued county funding to build the authority’s working capital and support multiple projects planned through 2025.

Dawn Fitzgerald, who was sworn in at the start of the segment as a Williams County Port Authority board member, summarized the authority’s mission to “develop and promote workforce housing initiatives, enhance the local economic vitality of the county, and create sustainable housing solutions for members of our communities.” She told commissioners the authority had completed a two‑year financial audit with the Ohio Auditor’s Office that “revealed no exceptions for 2022 and 2023” and that the audit will continue on a two‑year cycle given the authority’s level of activity.

Fitzgerald and other board members said the authority is managing multiple projects: single‑family homes, duplex plans, the Ridge at Greenfield subdivision, Fountain Creek Senior Villas locally, and continued work on a proposed David Brown subdivision that has been included on a federal funding list pending congressional budget action and USDA distribution. The board noted a federal grant application for the David Brown subdivision would fund infrastructure and that the project’s funding flows through USDA.

The Port Authority reported it currently has about 10 developable lots available and that it expects to continue single‑family and duplex construction through 2025. Board members described a fundraising and sponsorship effort that has drawn private donations and in‑kind materials from local manufacturers and suppliers; the presentation packet assembled by Ashley (surname not specified in the public record) lists sponsors and contributors.

On finances, the Port Authority representatives said they regularly engage an accounting firm to prepare generally accepted accounting presentations and to support the audit process. During the meeting an accounting engagement cost was mentioned in discussion as roughly $6,000 for converting records and preparing the audits; the board described that step as an important control and an additional set of eyes on finances. The authority said it has raised nearly $1 million in private match funds for projects and that county contributions have been instrumental in enabling construction to proceed. During the session a board member stated the county had previously agreed to provide support at $333,000 per year for three years; board representatives said they had received two installments and described the cumulative county support as approximately $750,000 to date (figures stated in the meeting record). The Port Authority asked the commissioners to send a formal funding request letter that would be placed on a future meeting agenda for consideration.

Board members also discussed workforce and demographic challenges: an aging population, demand for workforce housing from employers, and the need to scale up multi‑family and subdivision projects to produce hundreds of units countywide. They said the authority can build single‑family homes at a modest pace but that larger impacts require subdivisions, duplexes and multifamily projects that need upfront capital to construct infrastructure.

The Port Authority noted a senior living project will require immediate funding commitments and that duplex construction has higher upfront capital needs; the board said it is exploring options including borrowing once its balance sheet supports debt issuance, and that sale proceeds from completed projects would be re‑invested to develop additional lots.

Commissioners asked for the authority’s financial statements and requested the Port Authority send a formal letter requesting the county’s committed funding so the matter can be scheduled for board consideration. The Port Authority said it will provide the requested documents and the formal request letter.","Williams County Port Authority board members updated the commissioners on a clean audit for 2022–2023, ongoing single‑family, duplex and senior housing projects, a near‑term federal grant application for a subdivision, and a request that the county continue previously discussed multi‑year funding to support working capital.",{"_33":86,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":87,"_41":88,"_43":89,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":50,"_51":92,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":93,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":94,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6069059,"Commissioners approve routine resolutions, contracts and bids; vote to seek Ohio Supreme Court review of Pioneer ROW case",3664,66500,3730695,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3076891-26db7b3e71cdb3379e9923239ceb170a&start=66&end=3730","/articles/6069059/Ohio/Commissioners-approve-routine-resolutions-contracts-and-bids-vote-to-seek-Ohio-Supreme-Court-review-of-Pioneer-ROW-case","The Williams County Board of Commissioners on a routine morning agenda approved minutes, payment of bills, a sealed‑bid advertisement for the county paving program, multiple letters of engagement and contracts, and voted to ask the Ohio Supreme Court to consider an appeal in a long-running Village of Pioneer right‑of‑way dispute.

The board unanimously approved resolutions to accept previous meeting minutes and to approve the meeting agenda as presented. Commissioners then approved payment of bills after a brief administrative discussion about sorting and display of invoice totals.

A notice advertising sealed bids for Project 52025, the 2025 asphalt paving program, was authorized with a bid opening set for April 15 at 10 a.m. The board also approved a letter of engagement with the law office of Mark Fischel regarding employment and human resources matters for the commissioners' office, and a separate letter of engagement with Mark Fischel's office for legal counsel to represent the county's emergency medical services (EMS) (the EMS item included a letter from Katie attached to the resolution packet). The county entered into an agreement with CourtView Justice Solutions for court system services and related functionality.

The board passed a supplemental appropriation resolution covering funds for the Board of Elections, Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and Job and Family Services. Other routine items approved included a courthouse permit and multiple event requests listed in the consent packet.

Most votes were recorded by roll call with the commissioners voting “yes” on the listed resolutions. On the matter of the Village of Pioneer right‑of‑way dispute, the board approved Resolution 1‑34 to rescind a prior action (resolution 25‑0118 dated March 11) and to instruct county counsel to file a notice of appeal and memorandum in support of jurisdiction with the Ohio Supreme Court seeking review of appellate rulings in a consolidated case. The board noted that the Supreme Court may decline to take the case, in which event the appellate judgment would stand.

Votes at a glance (selected items):
- Resolution 25‑126: Approve minutes from March 13 and March 18, 2025 — motion carried (roll call recorded as yes by commissioners on file).
- Resolution 1‑27: Approve agenda as amended — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑28: Approve payment of bills — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑29: Supplemental appropriation for Board of Elections, EMA, Job & Family Services — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑30: Advertise sealed bids for Project 52025, 2025 asphalt paving program (bid opening April 15 at 10 a.m.) — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑31: Letter of engagement with Mark Fischel (employment/HR counsel) for commissioners' office — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑32: Letter of engagement with Mark Fischel for legal counsel to represent EMS (includes Katie's letter) — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑33: Agreement with CourtView Justice Solutions — motion carried (roll call yes).
- Resolution 1‑34: Rescind prior action dated March 11 (res. 25‑0118) and instruct counsel to file notice of appeal and memorandum in support of jurisdiction with the Ohio Supreme Court in the consolidated Pioneer/AquaBounty right‑of‑way cases — motion carried (roll call recorded: Commissioner Westlaw/Westfall yes; Commissioner LeRoux/LaRoe no; other commissioners yes; board noted the Supreme Court may decline review).

The board held an executive session earlier on compensation for the county EMA director and returned with no action, then continued the public meeting.","The Williams County Board of Commissioners approved a batch of routine resolutions — minutes, bills, bids, and contracts — and voted to rescind an earlier decision and ask the Ohio Supreme Court to consider an appeal over a Village of Pioneer right‑of‑way permit dispute.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners discuss short‑term EMA coverage, interim appointment and options to contract with neighboring counties

Williams County Port Authority reports audit clearance, growth in housing projects and asks county for continued funding support

Commissioners approve routine resolutions, contracts and bids; vote to seek Ohio Supreme Court review of Pioneer ROW case