Woods County commissioners approve related‑party voting policy, temporary easement and hire outside tax counsel

The Woods County Board of Commissioners on May 19 approved a series of administrative items including a related‑party transaction voting abstention policy, a temporary easement with Allan Hayer LLC and a legal services agreement for tax and ARPA matters.

The board approved a related‑party transaction policy that requires any commissioner with a relevant relationship to abstain from voting on the contract or matter. A commissioner described taking the draft to “Brian” for review and said the county auditor’s office had signaled it would be acceptable.

The board also approved a temporary easement with Allan Hayer LLC. Commissioners voted in favor of the easement after brief discussion; no further details about the easement’s physical location or duration were specified in the meeting record.

The board approved reimbursement to OEDA for invoice number 9208440739DM in the amount discussed on the record, and approved a legal services agreement with the firm Floyd and Driver. Commissioners were told Floyd and Driver would provide counsel on ARPA matters and occasional tax issues on an hourly basis at $300 per hour; one speaker said the county would use the firm sparingly because of the hourly rate.

Separately, commissioners approved a change to the flood damage prevention release wording to consolidate previously separate fees into a single $200 permit fee; a county staff member said the fee amount had not changed and the revision only simplified the wording.

The board approved routine purchase orders and the meeting minutes from the May 12 meeting.

Votes at a glance - Approval of May 12, 2025 minutes — Motion approved; vote recorded as three ayes, zero noes (tally: yes 3, no 0). Motion/second: not specified. - Temporary easement with Allan Hayer LLC — Motion approved; vote recorded as three ayes, zero noes (tally: yes 3, no 0). Motion/second: not specified. - Related‑party transaction policy (require abstention by conflicted commissioners) — Motion approved; vote recorded as three ayes, zero noes (tally: yes 3, no 0). Motion/second: not specified. - OEDA reimbursement (invoice 9208440739DM; amount discussed on record) — Motion approved; vote recorded as three ayes, zero noes (tally: yes 3, no 0). Motion/second: not specified. - Flood damage permit wording change (consolidated fee, $200) — Motion approved; vote recorded as affirmative. Motion/second: not specified. - Legal services agreement with Floyd and Driver (hourly counsel at $300/hour) — Motion approved; vote recorded as affirmative. Motion/second: not specified. - Approve purchase orders — Motion approved; vote recorded as affirmative. Motion/second: not specified.

What this means The related‑party transaction policy formalizes an abstention requirement for commissioners with a conflict, which the board said was intended to satisfy auditor expectations. The legal services agreement gives the county access to outside counsel for ARPA and tax matters on an hourly basis; the board emphasized cost caution because of the $300 hourly rate. The temporary easement approval and OEDA reimbursement relate to county operational projects; specific project locations and timing were not detailed in the meeting transcript.

Items noted but not decided During new business the board discussed the resignation of Bob Seibert from the Equalization and Excise Board and said they need to nominate a replacement from District 2; no formal appointment was recorded in the transcript. Commissioners also discussed an insurance liability assessment that is increasing the county’s share (an additional amount referenced as about $40,000) and the possibility of encumbering funds to cover the charge; no formal action on encumbrance appeared in the record.

The meeting concluded after routine approvals and a motion to adjourn.