Delaware County commissioners approve internships policy, service contracts, annexation acknowledgement and other routine measures

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on April 28 approved a set of routine resolutions covering county operations, contracts and planning matters and recessed into executive session to consider pending or imminent litigation.

The meeting opened with unanimous votes to approve the electronic record of proceedings from the April 24 meeting and to authorize purchase orders, certificates and payments in batch CMAPR0425 with associated memo transfers (resolutions 25-300 and 25-301). The board also acknowledged receipt of an annexation petition for 43.616 acres in Delaware Township submitted by agent Michael R. Shade (25-302).

Why it matters: Several votes authorize recurring contracts and administrative procedures that affect county facilities, budgeting and development review. The internship policy creates a formal mechanism for student placements in county departments, the concrete and security contracts cover day-to-day operations at county buildings, and the annexation acknowledgement begins a procedural step in a land-use change.

The board approved a letter of support for Harold Wilford’s nomination to the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame. “Harold has done so much for our community and for veterans, and so, I'm certainly glad to sign that letter,” said Barb Lewis, the board president.

On personnel and operational policy, Commissioners approved a student internship policy under the board’s direction (resolution 25-304). Don Houston, deputy administrator, presented the policy and said he was “recommending your approval of this and this would be for students that are actively pursuing degree programs, in their specific field of study, and provide guidelines surrounding how we would handle those student interns.”

The board accepted a biennial subgrant agreement that allows the county’s Child Support Enforcement Agency to receive federal funding through the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (25-305). Sue Sowers, with Child Support, described the arrangement as the regular two‑year agreement that establishes the county as a pass-through entity and subrecipient so it can receive federal funds.

Facilities and services contracts approved included a service agreement with BKM Construction LLC for maintenance and replacement of concrete at county buildings (25-306). John Melvin, director of facilities, said the work will cover sidewalks and steps throughout the county, including significant work at the jail’s front entrance and at EMS Station 2. The board also approved a first extension of a contract with Universal Protection Services LLC, doing business as Allied Universal Security Services, for uniformed armed security at current rates for another year (25-307); county staff reported generally favorable feedback on the contractor’s performance.

Financial and permitting items: Environmental Services Director Tiffany Magg reported that the board certified $179,327.98 in delinquent accounts for collection (25-308), an amount she said represents about 4.17% of accounts and is down slightly from typical levels; she also said roughly 30% of customers are on automatic payments. The commissioners approved a drainage maintenance petition and assessment for the Ashford of Berkshire development, an approximately 8.4‑acre site off Wilson Road in Brookshire Township (25-309), and approved five standard utility right-of-way permits (25-310).

Engineering and planning: The board approved amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with Wolford Incorporated for final engineering on the CR‑10 / South Old State Road widening to five lanes (phase 2) (25-311). County staff estimated construction could begin in 02/1928 as shown in the project schedule provided to the board. Commissioners described the corridor as “really congested” and said timely progress is important.

After the roll‑call votes the board moved into executive session “for consideration of pending or imminent litigation” (25-312) and recessed the public meeting.

Votes at a glance: • 25-300 — Approve electronic record of proceedings (04/24/2025). Vote: Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-301 — Approve purchase orders, certificates and payments batch CMAPR0425 and memo transfers MTAPR0425. Vote: Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-302 — Acknowledge receipt of annexation petition (agent Michael R. Shade) for 43.616 acres in Delaware Township to the City of Delaware. Vote: Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye. Outcome: acknowledged. • 25-303 — Approve letter of support for Harold Wilford’s Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame nomination. Vote: Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-304 — Approve student internship policy for departments under the board. Vote: Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-305 — Accept/approve ODJFS subgrant agreement with Ohio Department of Children and Youth for Child Support Enforcement Agency. Vote: Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-306 — Approve service agreement with BKM Construction LLC for concrete maintenance, repair and replacement. Vote: Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-307 — Approve first extension with Universal Protection Services LLC (Allied Universal) for uniformed armed security services at current rate. Vote: Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-308 — Certify delinquent/liquid accounts to county auditor for 2026 taxes ($179,327.98; ~4.17% of accounts). Vote: Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-309 — Approve drainage maintenance petition and assessment for Ashford of Berkshire (approx. 8.4 acres, Wilson Road, Brookshire Township). Vote: Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-310 — Approve utility right-of-way permit summary (five standard permits). Vote: Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye; Merrill — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-311 — Approve Amendment No. 2 with Wolford Inc. for CR‑10 / South Old State Rd widening (phase 2). Vote: Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye. Outcome: approved. • 25-312 — Adjourn into executive session to consider pending or imminent litigation. Vote: Merrill — Aye; Benton — Aye; Lewis — Aye. Outcome: approved (recessed into executive session).

The session included brief administrative and departmental updates but no additional formal actions were announced after the executive session.

Attribution: Quotes and attributions in this article come from the meeting transcript of the Delaware County Board of Commissioners’ April 28, 2025 meeting and are attributed to the speakers who made them as recorded in the transcript.