Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners approve grants, contracts and transfers; sheriff reports rising inmate medical and food costs
Summary
The Portage County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine fiscal motions and agreements (including EMPG reimbursement, ODOT agreement, e‑waste contract and PWC disbursement), and heard from the sheriff’s office about higher inmate medical and food expenses and a request for additional funds.
Portage County commissioners approved a package of routine fiscal items on Nov. 20 and heard a multi‑part briefing from the sheriff’s office about increased inmate medical and food expenses.
County staff opened a contingency briefing, reporting an unappropriated certification of $482,876 based on a certified beginning cash balance of $17,100,000 and estimated resources of $60,500,000 (total certification $77,600,000) with $77,100,000 appropriated to date. Staff identified recent drawdowns that reduced the balance, including a 25% JDCH VAC down payment and a sick‑leave conversion supplement.
On motions and votes, the board recorded roll‑call approval for a set of items including: authorization for Commissioner Mike Timlin to sign an EMPG cash reimbursement request for $54,245.01 (fiscal year 2024); direction to the auditor to process bills (ACH, wires, journal vouchers) and approval of budget amendments; a transfer of funds involving Kent community court projects and government bond refinance; authorization for the county engineer to sign ODOT Local Public Agency agreement No. 43399 for an intersection safety study; authorization to apply for the Ohio Attorney General opioid remediation 2025 grant on behalf of the sheriff’s office; an agreement with the Portage County Solid Waste Management District and GreenBoard IT LLC for electronic device collection; and procurement of a model 926 wheel loader from Ohio Cat for the county engineer. The board also approved acceptance correspondence for the Hickory Creek Phase 1 sewer project and a disbursement request to the Ohio Public Works Commission for Hartville Road resurfacing in the amount of $157,577.08 (72.4% local funds). All recorded roll calls in the meeting were recorded as affirmative by the attending commissioners.
Sheriff’s Office representatives told the board that inmate medical and food costs have climbed under current contracts. They said the county pays a flat monthly fee to University Hospitals (reported around $150,000/month under the current contract structure) and receives quarterly reconciliation invoices for higher‑cost out‑of‑jail care and certain drugs. A sheriff’s office representative said the county received $35,000 in June and an $83,000 payment most recently but still sought additional funding; figures mentioned in the presentation included $148,000 estimated for inmate medical and $30,000 for inmate food. Commissioners asked whether invoices are checked for double billing and whether federal inmate reimbursements (U.S. Marshals/ICE) have been received; staff said review processes are in place but that some federal payments travel via different channels and may not show up through the county’s usual receipts.
Facilities staff also briefed the board on deferred maintenance and contingency projects — exposed ceilings and a damaged pipe by the Treasurer’s Office (abatement completed), concerns about century‑old transfer switches that did not transfer to the generator reliably, HVAC compressor and tower deterioration, and a $5,000 catch basin repair needed at the sheriff’s department. Staff said they will develop cost estimates and return to the board with project priorities.
The board recessed for an executive session called under cited Ohio Revised Code sections and later completed remaining agenda items, then adjourned.
