County department heads report personnel, IT and facilities updates; commissioners approve several contracts and hires

After the public comment session and formal business, Richland County commissioners held a shortened department-head meeting July 17 and approved a series of administrative items, personnel-policy clarifications and facility contracts.

Personnel policy manual: Kelly (human resources) told the board an updated personnel policy manual with minor clarifications and grammatical fixes would be distributed by email and asked commissioners to sign an acknowledgment and ensure distribution to department employees. Commissioners moved and approved the changes.

IT: Pat from the county’s IT team described a newly acquired certified “media destroyer” that physically destroys hard drives to satisfy federal and state agencies’ data‑disposal requirements. Pat said departments on the county network can use the service and the IT office will provide certificates of destruction for agencies that need HIPAA or other compliance documentation.

Hiring and contracts approved: the board approved a part‑time kennel attendant position starting July 31 at $14.14 per hour; the 2025–26 rock‑salt contract was awarded to Cargill Incorporated at $64.96 per ton; and the commissioners approved a small furniture repair quote to Craftwood LLC ($700) and an additional appropriations transfer to cover forensic evaluation invoices for the common pleas general division (estimated maximum $5,700).

Facilities and capital projects: county facilities staff presented two larger renovation projects for commissioner approval. The board approved a phased plumbing replacement project at the Juvenile Justice Center to replace combined basin/toilet units and associated horizontal runs; design services were proposed for the project and hazardous‑materials investigation was included in the planning estimate. Commissioners also approved a plan to install a new 200+ ton exterior chiller (evaporator barrel inside) on the roof/mezzanine of a county building; the estimated construction plus design budget for the chiller project was included in the materials presented to the board.

Animal services and community programs: the county animal shelter reported 119 dogs in intake since the celebration event and outlined volunteer and adoption efforts, including a Mall Mascot program with Ontario Centre and a prison‑dog program with correctional institutions. Human services reported distribution plans for back‑to‑school vouchers and an updated schedule for federally required SNAP and Medicaid work‑component changes; children’s services outlined programs to help youth aging out of foster care.

Other operational notes: several departments reported ongoing renovations (restroom work, land‑bank improvements), staffing updates and inspection work. The commissioners asked staff to follow up on timing for courtroom and restroom projects; facilities staff gave a mid‑August target for completing a fourth courtroom finish and said restroom work would continue through the fall.

Context: commissioners said they shortened the department‑head meeting to manage time but asked department heads to provide written follow‑ups when appropriate. Several motions passed by unanimous voice vote or recorded yea votes.