Delaware County commissioners approve routine business, appoint library trustee and update travel policy

The Delaware County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 20, 2025, approved a series of routine resolutions, appointed Stacy Neff to the Delaware County District Library Board of Trustees, and adopted an updated travel expense and reimbursement policy. All listed motions on the agenda passed by unanimous votes before the board recessed into executive session to consider personnel, property and pending litigation.

The board approved multiple administrative and procurement items that the clerk read as numbered resolutions. The package included approvals of purchase orders and warrant payments, several liquor-license transfers and a plat for Evans Farm Arrowhead Section 1 (63 lots). The board also approved contracts and amendments to secure psychological and child-placement services for youth in the county’s custody.

Jane Hawes, the county’s director of communications, presented the library-board appointment and said, “We have before you a resolution that would appoint Stacy Neff to the Delaware County District Library Board of Trustees.” Commissioners commended Neff’s financial background; one commissioner said, “She has very, very strong, financial credentials,” and the appointment was approved.

Job and Family Services presented several items. Jennifer Wattenshade, business administrator, described a memorandum of understanding aimed at addressing child abuse and neglect and emphasized there is "no compensation, no money in or out" associated with the MOU. Wattenshade also outlined multiple contracts for psychological services used to evaluate youth placed in custody. For one provider, staff reported year-to-date expenditures of $7,987.50; for another provider, staff reported $13,125 spent so far this year.

During discussion of the psychological-services contracts, a commissioner raised concern that one contract contained no maximum annual payment, saying, “I noticed there's no maximum payment in this.” Staff responded that purchase orders are increased as needed for specific cases and that invoices are monitored; commissioners asked that future agreements include a not-to-exceed amount to clarify total financial exposure.

Deputy Administrator Dawn Houston described changes to the county’s travel-reimbursement policy prompted by guidance from the Ohio Ethics Commission and the state auditor. She said the agencies had made clear that earning rewards or points through county travel is not prohibited "as long as the discount programs and rewards are provided to members of the general public, that they do not create additional costs for the county and that the employee doesn't seek or use a specific company in order to earn the rewards or points." The updated policy adds a disclosure field on the reimbursement form and a professional-conduct section.

Votes at a glance: all listed resolutions on the Nov. 20 agenda were approved by recorded unanimous votes. Key items approved include Resolution 25-976 (approval of electronic record of proceedings), 25-977 (purchase orders and payments), 25-978 through 25-980 (liquor-license items), 25-981 (appointment of Stacy Neff to the library board), 25-982 (transfer of appropriation for the sheriff’s office), 25-983 (MOU on child abuse/neglect), 25-984–25-987 (psychological-services and child-placement contracts and amendments), 25-988 (updated travel policy), 25-989 (Evans Farm subdivision plat), and 25-990 (motion to enter executive session).

The meeting’s administrative reports included praise for the recent budget process and a note that the demolition-grant program allows counties to use up to an identified allocation (the transcript records $230,000 per county) through next May to commit projects. The board then voted to adjourn into executive session to discuss employment matters, property acquisition and pending or imminent litigation.

The board is expected to reconvene after the executive session on a schedule not announced in the public portion of the record.