County legal and personnel matters were on the agenda Thursday. The Richland County Board of Commissioners approved a contract for outside counsel to handle an arbitration matter involving the sheriff’s office, held an executive session to discuss a public employee, and later approved a one‑day suspension for an employee.

Kelly (presenting staff) told the board the sheriff’s office is defending a lawsuit through the county’s CORSA coverage, and one defendant named in that case filed a grievance that will go to arbitration. The firm that has been defending that defendant has a conflict and cannot represent the employer in arbitration. Kelly said the county sought outside counsel for the arbitration and proposed a contract for services with Isaac Wiles, Burkholder & Miller LLCs of Columbus at a rate of $210 per hour.

The board moved to approve the contract for services and voted to authorize the agreement. Following that item the board voted to enter executive session to discuss a public employee matter. After returning to open session, commissioners moved to approve a one‑day suspension for a single employee tied to a ‘‘Group 1 number 17’’ violation (the transcript records the action as a one‑day suspension; the employee’s name and additional personnel details were not specified in the public record provided).

The board recorded affirmative votes on the suspension. The county clerk noted the board would adjourn following remaining business.