Medina County commissioners approve routine resolutions; staff report service metrics and upcoming annexation review

The Medina County Board of Commissioners met in a regularly scheduled session that opened with the pledge and an invocation, then approved several routine resolutions and heard department updates.

Commissioners unanimously approved the minutes of Jan. 20 and a package of county-engineer resolutions to advertise bids for paving, a thin asphalt overlay and a chip-and-seal program, and to accept and award a resurfacing contract for Columbia Road in Lafayette Township. The board also approved two sanitary-engineer resolutions authorizing a construction-inspection agreement with Accenture PLC for the Blake Avenue Road reconstruction project and change order No. 1 for an automatic transfer switch project. Motions were moved and seconded and carried on roll calls in which Commissioners Hambley, Harrison and Sweatick each voted "Yes."

Brett Thomas, finance director, presented a transfer of $86,894.50 to the Medina County Emergency Management Agency, noted an amendment to a Family Centered Services and Support grant that increases funding by $22,616.27 and extends the term, and presented weekly bills totaling $1,916,033.53; all were approved by the board. County Administrator Matt Springer secured approval for a one-year contract extension for yard-waste services, an appointment to the dog-shelter advisory committee (Allison Novak), a vehicle lease for the building department, and a $260-per-month beautician contract for the Medina County Home.

Debbie Kiley of Job & Family Services reported that the agency processed nearly 6,000 public assistance applications in 2025, handled more than 1,000 emergency-assistance requests that distributed about $356,000, and issued more than $19 million in SNAP benefits and over $800,000 in cash assistance. The child-support division reported collections exceeding $18 million and $4 million in arrears. Kiley said divisions met state timeliness standards and generated incentive dollars for the agency.

Stacy Malecar of the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities (MCBDD) presented the board's annual report, noting growth in the number of people eligible for services, expanded partnerships for accessible playgrounds and sensory-friendly events, and a significant fiscal pressure: a rise in mandated Medicaid waiver matches that Malecar said will increase by about 26% and now represents the board's largest cost. She said the board has planned conservatively and expects levy resources to sustain services through 2030 provided no major state or federal policy changes occur.

During public comment, Therese Wozakowski, a certified peer recovery support specialist, asked the board for help and direction in establishing a treatment-court alumni nonprofit, "We Rise Working Recovery," and commissioners offered contact information, a newsletter mention and grant-application suggestions.

Announcements included a notice of a new local D5-1 liquor permit application for GMA Biscuits Medina at 4913 Pearl Road (no hearing required) and a municipal annexation petition for three parcels totaling about 0.8618 acres to be reviewed at the commissioners' meeting on Feb. 3, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m.

The meeting moved to discussion sessions after announcements and later recessed into executive session to discuss pending litigation.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (motion made and seconded): Hambley — Yes; Harrison — Yes; Sweatick — Yes (approved). - County engineer resolutions package (4 items): approved on roll call (Hambley, Harrison, Sweatick — Yes). - Sanitary engineer resolutions (2 items): approved on roll call (Hambley, Harrison, Sweatick — Yes). - Planning Services amendment adding two work-group members: approved on roll call. - Human Resources personnel and table-of-organization amendments (2 resolutions): approved on roll call. - Finance transfers, grant amendment and weekly bills (4 resolutions): approved on roll call. - County-administrator package (4 resolutions): approved on roll call. - Job & Family Services fund-transfer items (5 resolutions): approved on roll call.

Next steps: items referring to external regulatory processes (for example, the Ohio EPA sanitary survey discussed in staff reports) will be handled by staff and coordinated with the health department; the annexation petition will be reviewed on Feb. 3, 2026.