Fulton County commissioners approve festival lease, CDBG engineering contract and reaffirm public defender's 40‑hour salary

Fulton County commissioners on Tuesday approved a lease for the county’s Strawberry Festival, authorized an engineering contract for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project, and reaffirmed that the public defender’s salary will reflect a 40‑hour workweek, the board said at its meeting in the commissioners’ office.

The meeting opened at 8:30 a.m. with Commissioner Randy H. Bunch calling the session to order, followed by prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. On separate motions, the board approved the Feb. 10, 2026 minutes; payroll dated Feb. 20, 2026 in the amount of $126,643.71; and accounts payable dated Feb. 17, 2026 totaling $115,002.69. The accounts-payable distribution included $87,536.62 to the General Fund and smaller allocations to Liquid Fuels, Law Library, 911 and other funds. All routine motions were approved unanimously.

Commissioners met with Public Defender Phil Harper and Administrative Assistant Cheryl Deshong to review matters tied to the Indigent Defense Grant. On a motion by Commissioner Hervey P. Hann, the board reaffirmed that the public defender’s salary will reflect a 40‑hour workweek effective Jan. 1, 2026.

The board moved into an executive session for personnel matters at 8:33 a.m. and exited at 8:59 a.m. The public record contains only the topics of the sessions (personnel and, later, legal) and not details discussed during them.

On the consent agenda, the commissioners approved a lease form submitted by the Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism for McConnell Park to host the Strawberry Festival June 11–13, 2026. The board also approved a contract with CES Engineering, LLC for engineering services at the Warfordsburg Senior Center CDBG project not to exceed $15,000, and retroactively authorized Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives to sign a CDBG Exempt Status Determination and Mitigation Measures and Conditions Form.

The board approved a request from Domestic Relations Director Tina Gress to purchase new office furniture from W.B. Mason, to be funded by the Title IV‑D Incentive Account, in the amount of $6,467.15. Commissioners also approved an invoice from Wessel & Company for CFO services for January 2026 for $4,340.00. On a motion by Commissioner Steven L. Wible, the board voted to table consideration of a contract with Pressley Ridge for services for children pending additional information.

Commissioner Bunch moved to adjourn at 11:22 a.m.; the motion passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance

- Approve Feb. 10, 2026 minutes — Motion: Commissioner Steven L. Wible; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve payroll (Feb. 20, 2026) — Motion: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; Amount: $126,643.71; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve accounts payable (Feb. 17, 2026) — Motion: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; Amount: $115,002.69; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Reaffirm public defender 40‑hour salary (effective Jan. 1, 2026) — Motion: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; Outcome: approved unanimously. - McConnell Park lease for Strawberry Festival (June 11–13, 2026) — Motion: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; Outcome: approved unanimously. - CES Engineering contract (Warfordsburg Senior Center CDBG) — Motion: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann; Amount not to exceed $15,000; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Retroactive authorization for Chief Clerk to sign CDBG form — Motion: Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; Outcome: approved unanimously. - W.B. Mason furniture purchase (Domestic Relations) — Motion: Commissioner Randy H. Bunch; Amount: $6,467.15; Funding: Title IV‑D Incentive Account; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Wessel & Company invoice for CFO services (Jan. 2026) — Motion: Commissioner Steven L. Wible; Amount: $4,340.00; Outcome: approved unanimously. - Pressley Ridge contract — Motion: Commissioner Steven L. Wible to table; Outcome: tabled pending more information.

(Executive sessions were held at 8:33–8:59 a.m. for personnel matters and at 9:22–10:21 a.m. for legal matters; no additional public detail was released.)