Hocking County commissioners approve $100,000 senior center transfer, utility and roadway permits

Hocking County commissioners voted March 20 to transfer $100,000 into capital accounts for the Scenic Hill Senior Center, approve additional appropriations tied to replacing the center’s bus, accept a $7,500 H2Ohio grant to Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District, and approve several utility and right-of-way permits and agreements.

The votes were taken during the regular Board of Commissioners meeting with three commissioners present. The transfer and related appropriations for the Scenic Hill Senior Center passed by voice vote; commissioners said the funds came from a private gift to the senior center in 2024 that the center can now use for capital improvements. “Those funds are coming from a gift that was given to the senior center in 2024,” a commissioner said at the meeting.

Why it matters: The transfer and appropriations provide immediate funding for the center’s wellness improvements and to replace a county-funded bus used for senior transportation. The approvals for right-of-way and load-permit work clear the way for utility companies to perform pipeline and pole work; the county also approved a road-repair agreement that holds a contractor responsible for damage to county roads.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded voice votes with all present commissioners saying “Aye” on each motion. Where the transcript recorded no roll-call tally, the board’s standard practice of unanimous voice approval was used.

- Scenic Hill Senior Center fund transfer and additional appropriations: Motion passed (voice unanimous). The board described a $100,000 transfer into capital projects for the wellness center and a matching additional appropriation to replace the senior center bus; the money was identified as a 2024 private gift to the center. No legal or external approvals were cited as conditions for spending those funds.

- Hocking Soil and Water Conservation District: Certificate of additional revenue and appropriation for $7,500 received from the Ohio Department of Agriculture H2Ohio program. Motion passed (voice unanimous).

- Satisfaction of mortgage amendment: Approved for a private residence after the homeowner paid off the mortgage. Motion passed (voice unanimous).

- Right-of-way and utility approvals (engineer-signed): Applications for Columbia Gas to replace a 6-inch pipeline in Benton Township and multiple South Central Power pole-replacement applications on Unger Road, Purcell Road and at Unger/Colt intersections were approved (voice unanimous). The county engineer had signed off on these applications.

- Load limit permit and road-repair agreement: Approved for Hocking Hills Energy and Well Services LLC. The board accepted a standard form permit and a road-repair agreement holding the company responsible for any road damage (motion passed, voice unanimous).

- Personnel and scheduling motions: The board voted to post the maintenance vacancy that will be created when the county’s maintenance employee departs and to keep the posting open until filled. The board also agreed to move next week’s meeting to 8:30 a.m. to allow commissioners to attend an economic development meeting and to schedule HR interviews the following week.

Discussion vs. decisions: Most approvals were procedural and passed on unanimous voice votes; commissioners recorded only limited discussion for the senior-center appropriation (noting the gift source) and the engineer-signed right-of-way items. No item passed with recorded dissent.

What’s next: Staff will complete standard administrative follow-ups: math and reference checks for bid openings (the board read bids but did not award at the meeting), processing the transfers and appropriations, and issuing required permit paperwork. The board also instructed staff to post the maintenance vacancy and to finalize interview scheduling for the HR position.