Franklin County commissioners approve $987,212.98 in claims, renew state set‑off agreement

The Franklin County Commission on Nov. 19 approved its consent agenda, which included claim vouchers and tax-change orders totaling $987,212.98 and an additional $10,500 item, and unanimously renewed a municipal agreement with the state to continue using the state "set‑off" program to collect delinquent debt.

Chair Harris opened the meeting and commissioners voted to approve the consent agenda after a motion; Commissioners recorded unanimous "yes" votes. The consent items included approval of the Nov. 12 commission meeting minutes and the listed financial items.

County staff member Christy Hillaker told the commission the state had asked Franklin County to re-sign the municipal qualification certification and the municipal agreement for the state set‑off program because the county’s existing agreement dated from 2014. "All it was was they've asked that we re sign it because the last one that they have was from 2014," Hillaker said, adding she saw no increase in state fees and recommended continuing with the program. "They are a source of income for us, and we just need a new — just need it signed." The commission voted to approve the agreement unanimously.

Separately, the clerk reported that the county’s canvas produced a four-way tie in a Richmond city council race. To resolve the tie, the clerk prepared four folded papers with one candidate name on each and asked a commissioner to draw one name; the clerk said Jake Aches will receive the certificate of election and it will be mailed to him.

What happened next: the commission moved on to staff reports and adjourned following routine business.

Actions at a glance: - Motion: "Approve the consent agenda" (motion introduced at the meeting). Vote: yes 4, no 0, outcome: approved. - Motion: "Approve municipal qualification certification/municipal agreement (state set‑off program)". Vote: yes 4, no 0, outcome: approved. - Action: Richmond council tie resolved by drawing a name; clerk to mail certificate to Jake Aches.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article are those who appear in the meeting record: Chair Harris; Commissioner Saldemeyer; Commissioner Wehmeyer (transcript shows variant spellings); Commissioner Dickinson (transcript shows variant spellings); Christy Hillaker; and the clerk who managed the tie draw.

The commission did not provide additional public hearings or extended debate on these items during the meeting. The municipal set‑off agreement re-signature was described by staff as an administrative renewal requested by the state rather than a change in county policy.