Richland County commissioners approve road contract, utility permits, hires and personnel actions

The Richland County Board of Commissioners on March 13 approved a package of routine financial measures, utility permits and a construction contract, and completed personnel actions after executive sessions.

The commissioners certified the March 11 record of proceedings, approved requisitions, authorized weekly transfers and appropriation requests and approved the quarterly wastewater overtime resolution. They also approved utility permit applications from AEP to replace poles and adjust wire heights on Myers Road (County Road 201), Baseline Road and Rome Greenway (County Road 11 and County Road 76).

In a separately moved item the commissioners approved the county engineer’s recommendation to award the Corson Road construction project to the apparent low bidder, RNI Construction, after bids were opened March 6. The engineer told the board the apparent low bid exceeded the engineer’s estimate by about 14 percent but remained under the board’s 20 percent threshold for excess. The board approved the award following the engineer’s recommendation.

The board also approved hiring two part‑time kennel attendants, Benjamin Fain and Jennifer Miletto, at a starting hourly rate of $13.86 effective the day of the meeting; the hires were requested by the dog warden.

During closed sessions, the commissioners approved personnel actions at the Department of Job and Family Services and Dayspring. The board voted to terminate a probationary JFS employee effective immediately and subsequently approved a series of disciplinary motions for Dayspring staff: a one‑day suspension for a third tardy violation, termination for an attendance policy violation described by staff as an eight‑point Section 7.2 breach, and a one‑day suspension for a separate Group 2, No. 7 violation. The motions were presented in executive session and brought back for public vote.

Votes at a glance - Certify record of proceedings for 03/11/2025 — motion approved (voice vote). - Approve requisitions — motion approved (voice vote). - Approve weekly transfer and appropriation requests — motion approved (voice vote). - Approve quarterly overtime resolution for wastewater — motion approved (voice vote). - Approve AEP utility permits (Myers Road / Baseline Road / Rome Greenway) — motion approved (voice vote). - Award Corson Road construction contract to apparent low bidder RNI Construction (engineer recommended; bid described as above estimate by ~14% but within allowable excess) — motion approved (voice vote). - Hire Benjamin Fain and Jennifer Miletto as part‑time kennel attendants at $13.86/hr, effective today — motion approved (voice vote). - Terminate probationary employee at Job and Family Services, effective today — motion approved (motion brought from executive session). - Dayspring staff discipline: one‑day suspension (third tardy); termination (8‑point Section 7.2 attendance violation); one‑day suspension (Group 2 No. 7) — motions approved (voice votes).

The board’s meeting packet and staff remarks indicated the Corson Road bid was the lowest of three bids received March 6 and that procurement requirements were met; the engineer recommended award despite the bid exceeding the estimate by about 14 percent because it remained within the board’s allowable excess threshold. The record does not specify the exact dollar amount of the low bid in clear numeric form.

The board recessed several times during the session for scheduled executive sessions; the public actions on personnel matters were taken after those closed deliberations. No ordinance adoptions or budget appropriations beyond the weekly transfers and the wastewater overtime resolution were recorded at the meeting.

The commissioners closed the meeting after approving a final motion and recessed for the day.