Morrow County staff updated commissioners on Jan. 7 about the county’s contract with the state for community mental health services and proposed a sole-source procurement for Community Counseling Solutions (CCS), the county’s only local provider.

Staff said negotiations over liability language delayed the finalized contract; the state granted an extension through Dec. 31, 2025 and indicated the next CFAA contract would run Jan. 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, an 18-month term. Staff told the board they have not yet received the finalized, Morrow County-specific contract document.

Because CCS is currently the only provider in the county, staff proposed pursuing a sole-source determination. Staff said the sole-source approach would include a public notice to allow others to respond if interested, and that the county would bring a sole-source item for board action no earlier than the Jan. 21 meeting. County counsel is reviewing contract boilerplate, staff said.

Staff also said the state indicated services rendered between Jan. 1, 2026 and the county’s adoption of the new contract would be retroactively covered so CCS would not be financially exposed. Staff told commissioners they had contacted Kimberly Lindsey to review the local plan prepared by CCS and to be available to answer questions at the board’s forthcoming meeting.

Staff emphasized that formal adoption of the local plan and approval of the CFAA contract are separate steps: adoption of the local plan could be placed on a future agenda, and the contract would need formal approval once county-specific numbers arrive.