Fulton County commissioners approve payroll, allocations and administrative reviews; tax appeal hearing recorded an abstention

Fulton County commissioners on Feb. 3, 2026, approved routine minutes and a series of administrative and financial actions while holding multiple executive sessions and a tax appeal hearing that included one abstention.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. at the Commissioners' Office. After the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, the board opened a public-comment period during which resident Carolyn Kerlin asked for updates on ongoing litigation matters. Residents Sandra Barton and Marty Mettille were also recorded as attending.

The board approved the Jan. 27, 2026 Commissioners' Minutes and Salary Board Minutes on motions by Commissioner Steven L. Wible. Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to approve payroll dated Feb. 6, 2026, in the amount of $129,990.81; the motion was recorded as "All in favor." The board also approved accounts payable dated Feb. 3, 2026, totaling $334,397.62. The meeting record lists the following fund breakdown: General Fund $96,661.78; Liquid Fuels $13.13; HSDF/HSBG $165,835.26; Law Library $724.96; 911 $44,792.44; Domestic Relations $352.92; Debt Service $26,017.13. That motion was recorded as "All in favor."

The board entered an executive session at 8:30 a.m. for legal matters and exited at 9:20 a.m. A tax appeal hearing followed; Commissioner Steven L. Wible abstained from the hearing due to a declared conflict of interest, and the record notes that separate minutes for that hearing are on file.

HR Administrator Mary Huston presented the January 2026 Retirement Fund Report; Commissioner Bunch moved to approve and execute the report and the motion was recorded as "All in favor."

The board approved travel-request forms for Services for Children Director Christine McQuade and Services for Children Fiscal Technician Stephanie Mellott to attend the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Conference March 11–13, 2026, in State College, Pennsylvania. The board also approved an engagement letter from KB&S (Kulla, Barkdoll & Stewart, P.C.) to provide a review of the Fulton County Prothonotary's Office.

Commissioner Hann authorized Commissioner Wible to execute Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP) allocation letters for FY 2024–2025 ($464,875.00) and FY 2025–2026 ($491,875.00). The board approved a laptop quote submitted by Rick Grissinger of Elect IT to be used in Franklin County for jury-coordinator duties and approved an invoice from Franklin County Fiscal for Fulton County court costs for the fourth quarter of 2025, in the amount of $38,819.27 (recorded as 10% of court wages and benefits). All motions in the record are noted as "All in favor," unless otherwise specified.

The board entered a second executive session at 10:35 a.m. for personnel matters and exited at 10:53 a.m. After that session Commissioner Bunch moved to appoint Commissioner Wible to perform duties for committees assigned due to medical leave; the motion was recorded as "All in favor." The board recessed at 10:58 a.m. for a Criminal Justice Advisory Board meeting and later resumed the regular meeting at 1:18 p.m. An additional executive session for personnel was held from 1:18 p.m. to 1:38 p.m., after which the commissioners, the HR administrator and the chief clerk conducted interviews for the Prothonotary's Office. The meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve Jan. 27, 2026 Commissioners' Minutes — motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve Jan. 27, 2026 Salary Board Minutes — motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve Payroll (Feb. 6, 2026) $129,990.81 — motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve Accounts Payable (Feb. 3, 2026) $334,397.62 — motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Tax appeal hearing — hearing held after executive session; Commissioner Steven L. Wible abstained due to conflict of interest; separate minutes on file. - Approve January 2026 Retirement Fund Report — motion by Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve travel for Services for Children staff (March 11–13, 2026) — motion by Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve engagement letter from KB&S to review Prothonotary's Office — motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Authorize Commissioner Wible to execute MATP allocation letters (FY24–25 $464,875.00; FY25–26 $491,875.00) — motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Approve laptop quote (Elect IT) for jury-coordinator duties — motion recorded as "All in favor." - Approve Franklin County invoice for Q4 2025 court costs $38,819.27 — motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor"). - Personnel executive sessions held; commission appointed Commissioner Wible to perform committee duties during a medical leave — motion by Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; outcome: approved (recorded as "All in favor").

What’s next: Separate minutes are on file for the tax appeal hearing. The board conducted interviews for the Prothonotary's Office and the meeting record indicates those interviews took place; no final appointment for that office was recorded in the minutes provided.