Portage County commissioners approve batch of agreements, grants and budget actions

Portage County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 9 approved a broad package of contracts, grant applications, budget transfers and project agreements, most by unanimous roll call votes.

The approvals covered health‑plan vendor agreements; multiple public‑works and water‑resources contracts and grant documents; several lease and real‑estate agreements for county offices; budget transfers and acceptance of grants; and authorizations to begin or continue engineering or procurement work for county infrastructure projects. Nearly all items passed by unanimous roll call (Sabrina: yes; Jill: yes; Mike: yes) where recorded.

Why it matters: The items approved set immediate spending authorities, create or amend county funds, and authorize the county to apply for or accept state and federal grants that will affect infrastructure, public safety and county operations in 2025.

Votes at a glance (approved unless otherwise noted) - Agreement with Willis Towers Watson Midwest Inc. for health benefit plan consulting services for 2025 (motion approved by roll call). (see transcript 2808.9–2820.3) - Agreement with Medical Mutual of Ohio to provide administrative services for the Section 125 flexible spending account (FSA) plan for 2025 (roll call). (2821.2–2842.3) - Acceptance of a domestic violence intervention grant reimbursement request to the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services, $51,053.30 as requested by Family & Community Services (roll call). (3539.9–3541.3) - Approval of partial release and mortgage documents for 523 Ravenna Avenue (Portage Housing I Limited Partnership), documents reviewed with no exceptions (roll call). (3561.9–3564.5) - Authorization for the president of the board to sign a Water Pollution Control Loan Fund agreement with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for the Village of Minoway Waste Water Treatment Plant headworks and electrical improvement project (roll call). (3585.9–3590.1) - Authorization for the president to sign cybersecurity considerations for Ohio EPA critical‑infrastructure funding (roll call). (3606.4–3610.1) - Authorization for the president to sign the equitable sharing agreement and certification for the Portage County Prosecutor’s Office (roll call). (3610.1–3626.7) - Authorization to process bills, ACH payments, wires and vendor vouchers for mid‑December pay periods contingent on verification (roll call). (3629.5–3665.8) - Multiple budget transfers and amendments processed as reviewed by the Department of Budget and Financial Management (roll call). (3666.1–3743.7) - Acceptance of the federal Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant on behalf of the Portage County Emergency Management Agency (roll call). (3754.9–3759.1) - Authorization to apply to the 2025 Consortium of Ohio County Law Library Boards grant program for the Portage County Law Library (roll call). (3767.9–3771.3) - Authorization to apply for the Ohio Pet Fund grant (roll call). (3772.4–3781.7) - Declaration of necessity to purchase one vehicle for the Portage County Hazardous Materials Response Team (EMA) (roll call). (3791.7–3796.7) - Acceptance of donation of one vehicle for use by the Portage County Sheriff’s Department (roll call). (3797.1–3806.7) - Declaration of necessity to purchase one vehicle for the Portage County Sheriff’s Department (roll call). (3807.8–3818.5) - Creation of fund 11341 (Ohio timeout) for the Portage County Adult Probation Department (roll call). (3818.5–3832.7) - Authorization to sign grant report and reimbursement request for the Domestic Violence Intervention project (see above) (roll call). (3539.9–3541.3) - Multiple property leases and real‑estate lease agreements approved, including lease space for Congressman Joyce (two rooms on the first floor of the administration building), Jobs and Family Services space at 449 S. Meridian Street, and other county office leases (roll calls). (4410.2–4440.6) - Acceptance of right‑of‑way permit escrow addendum and related documents for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund projects (roll call). (4462.4–4466.4) - Authorization for the Portage County Engineer to enter into a public‑agency agreement with ODOT for Ellsworthy Road bridge replacement (roll call). (4484.4–4489.4) - Authorization to execute agreement with Wheeling and Lake Erie Railway Company for preliminary engineering for Judson Road Bridge rehabilitation (roll call). (4507.6–4512.6) - Authorization of force account use and issuance of highway permits for 2025 (roll call). (4513.1–4529.3) - Temporary reduced load limits (35%) on county and township roads effective Jan. 31, 2025 through May 1, 2025, or until signs are posted (roll call). (4529.3–4548.4) - Acceptance of new subdivision streets in Broomfield Township and conditional acceptance in Wingfoot Lake subdivision (roll calls). (4556.3–4589.4) - Agreement for independent‑contractor services between Portage County Emergency Management Agency and Michael Baker International (roll call). (4599.9–4604.5) - Authorization for Water Resources department to begin contract negotiations with selected engineering consulting firms (roll call). (4604.5–4616.1) - Agreement for professional consulting services with Safe Build Ohio LLC for the Building Department (roll call). (4617.8–4631.4) - Approval of specifications and set bid for inmate food services for the Portage County Jail (roll call). (4632.0–4639.5) - Acceptance of Johnson Controls Inc. proposal and contract for HVAC replacement work at the Portage County Courthouse (roll call). (4659.9–4663.8) - Authorization to enter an amendment for transportation services with Portage County Job and Family Services and the Portage County Area Regional Transportation Authority (roll call). (4675.7–4690.4)

Other administrative and receiving items: the board acknowledged multiple departmental reports and certificates required by state law (auditor certificates, sheriff reports, dog warden intake/disposition reports, treasurer reconciliations and other routine filings). See the meeting record for item‑by‑item roll calls and recorded votes.

The board moved into and out of two executive sessions during the meeting under Ohio Revised Code provisions for attorney consultations on pending or imminent litigation and for labor negotiations; no public action resulted from those sessions, and commissioners announced “no action” after each return to open session.