Delaware County commissioners approve Gilbane contract, back PUCO review of hazardous-material routing and approve series of county projects and contracts

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on March 13 approved a slate of resolutions covering facility contracts, road projects, procurement extensions and interagency grants, and voted to enter executive session to discuss personnel, litigation and collective bargaining.

The most consequential approvals included a construction-manager-at-risk contract with Gilbane Building Company for the county's Social Services Administration Facility Project, formal support for a Public Utilities Commission of Ohio review of routing for hazardous-material trucks on Ohio 315, and a subaward to participate in a state-funded child welfare fellowship pilot that would create paid internships for non‑social‑work majors in the county Job and Family Services office.

Commissioners voted unanimously on each measure. Barton Lewis, president of the Delaware County Board of Commissioners, opened and closed votes; Commissioners Jeff Benton and Gary Merrill voted with him on each roll call listed on the agenda.

Gilbane contract and project timeline

The board approved Resolution No. 25-193 to contract with Gilbane Building Company as construction manager at risk (CMAR) for the new Delaware County Social Services Administration Facility. John Melvin, director of facilities, and county staff negotiated the agreement; county staff said schematic design is due in April and final design by November under the current schedule, and that a 2027 completion remains the working target. The board approved the contract by voice vote.

Support for PUCO review of hazardous-material routing on Ohio 315

Resolution No. 25-192 directs county support for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to assess whether the agency can designate restricted routes for hazardous-material transport along portions of Ohio 315. Eric Hosetler, deputy county administrator, told commissioners that "PUCO has jurisdiction to restrict or prohibit, well certainly designate routes for hazardous material transportation," and explained the resolution would ask PUCO to review designating 315 as a restricted route. Commissioner Jeff Benton said, "I think it's a step forward," and Commissioner Barton Lewis described the road as a narrow two‑lane route with school buses and said he would prefer further restrictions if possible. The board voted to approve the resolution.

Child welfare fellowship subaward

The board approved Resolution No. 25-194, a subaward and collaborative agreement between Franklin County Children's Services and Delaware County Job and Family Services to participate in a state-funded child welfare fellowship pilot. Jennifer Wattenschade, business administrator with Job and Family Services, said the program is a paid internship for non‑social‑work majors intended to give experience and reduce turnover among entry‑level caseworkers. Key details provided by Wattenschade: internships may last up to one year, interns may work up to 26 hours per week at $15 per hour, interns do not receive paid holidays or vacation but may accrue sick leave, interns are eligible for a midterm bonus, and Delaware County offers a $500 hiring bonus to interns who are later hired by the county. The amount of the bonus if hired by another county was described as "I forget the amount" and therefore is not specified in the record. The board approved the subaward.

Contract extension for sodium hypochlorite purchase

Tiffany Magg, director of environmental services, presented Resolution No. 25-195 to approve change order No. 2 with Bond Chemical for a one‑year extension of the sodium hypochlorite supply contract at no change in unit price. Magg stated the current price remains $2.59 per gallon, with annual usage costing about $19,000. She said competing quotes were about $3.00 per gallon and recommended extension; the commissioners approved the change order.

Road projects, consultant amendments and grants

The board approved multiple transportation actions: - Resolution No. 25-196 approved plans, specifications and set the bid date of April 1 at 10 a.m. for the 2025 Delaware County road improvement program (township road resurfacing and improvements). - Resolution No. 25-198 approved Amendment No. 2 to the professional services agreement with CT Consulting Incorporated for Dell PR 100-0.1 (Shanahan Road) improvements. Lee Bodnar of the engineer's office said the project widens Shanahan Road from two lanes to three lanes from U.S. 23 to North Road, approximately 0.87 miles, and scheduled work to begin in mid‑next year; the amendment funds additional environmental work. - Resolution No. 25-197 accepted a $500,000 support grant to the Delaware County Transportation Improvement District (TID) to advance projects in the TID pipeline. - Resolution No. 25-200 approved 24 standard utility right‑of‑way permits as summarized on the right‑of‑way permit sheet.

Developer agreements and easement vacation

The board approved a developer's owner's agreement for Marigold Development (Resolution No. 25-199) for a proposed multi‑family development at Drive and Lewis Center Road in Orange Township, and approved Resolution No. 25-202 to vacate a portion of a drainage easement for Collogix US (noted in the record as "Collogix US" / commercial site at the southeast corner of Home Road and Green Meadows Drive in Orange Township).

Recorder SB 94 scanning project

Melissa Jordan, Delaware County recorder, presented Resolution No. 25-203 to approve an agreement with Technology Systems ScanWorks for an SB 94 record‑scanning project to bring the recorder's office into compliance with the state timeline and to permit the county to petition for first‑come, first‑served state funds. Jordan said the project will put records from 1980 forward online. The board approved the agreement.

Budget and administrative housekeeping

The board approved several routine fiscal and administrative resolutions including approval of purchase orders and warrants (Res. 25-188), travel expense requests (Res. 25-189), a vehicle purchase/lease for the Juvenile Court (Res. 25-190) to replace two vehicles (county staff said two Chevy Malibus would be exchanged for two Nissan Altimas), transfers of appropriations (Res. 25-191 and Res. 25-201), and subaward and agreement language for a child welfare fellowship (Res. 25-194). The board also approved the electronic record of proceedings from the March 10, 2025 meeting (Res. 25-187).

Executive session

The board approved Resolution No. 25-204 and recessed into executive session for discussion of appointment and compensation of a public employee or official, pending or imminent litigation, and collective bargaining; the roll call vote to enter executive session was unanimous.

Votes at a glance

All listed resolutions were approved by the board in voice votes with the three commissioners recorded as voting "Aye." The resolutions recorded on the March 13, 2025 agenda and approved were: 25-187, 25-188, 25-189, 25-190, 25-191, 25-192, 25-193, 25-194, 25-195, 25-196, 25-197, 25-198, 25-199, 25-200, 25-201, 25-202, 25-203 and 25-204.

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Less-critical details noted during the meeting included county progress on DKMM and TID work, a public‑private partnership for a new fire/EMS station north of State Route 36, and staff updates on local capital campaigns and ribbon‑cutting events. The meeting then recessed into executive session.