Fayette County commissioners approve contracts, chip-seal reduction and TIF fee waiver in unanimous session

The Board of Fayette County Commissioners — Commissioners Tony Anderson, James D. Garland and Donald L. Fleak — met Dec. 15 and voted unanimously on a package of routine fiscal actions, service contracts and infrastructure items that will affect county operations and partner agencies in 2026.

The board approved an amendment to the county’s contract with Mended Reeds, Inc., the child‑placement and related services provider for the Fayette County Department of Job and Family Services. Per a request from Director Faye Williamson, the board increased the contract’s maximum amount to $115,000 while leaving other contract terms unchanged.

The meeting also recorded a downward adjustment to roadwork costs: the county approved Change Order No. 1 for the 2025 Fayette County Chip Seal Program with Miller Mason Paving Co., reflecting reduced quantities and a net contract price decrease of $10,486.18, lowering the contract from $319,707.58 to $309,221.40. The time for completion was unchanged.

On public‑safety contracts, the board authorized the sheriff to enter agreements with the Villages of Bloomingburg, Jeffersonville and Milledgeville for county law‑enforcement services in 2026 at a rate of $30 per hour; each contract term runs Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026.

The county authorized a professional services agreement with Verdantas, LLC to provide construction inspection, administration and materials testing for two water‑system contracts (underwater intake rehabilitation and caisson/control building improvements), with a fee not to exceed $758,316. The board also approved two six‑month janitorial contracts—Fine Point Cleaning Services for several county facilities at $29,765.46 and GSF‑USA for additional buildings at $52,450.68—and a 36‑month lease for a Kyocera mz4001i copier at the Common Pleas Court with specified monthly payments and included print allowances.

In a pair of road‑planning resolutions, commissioners voted to vacate a portion of Milledgeville–Jeffersonville Road and to dedicate that same segment as a continuation of Bluegrass Boulevard; the county engineer was authorized to prepare plats for the vacation and dedication after the public hearing produced no comments for or against the action.

The board adopted a resolution authorizing the Fayette County Sheriff to use county credit cards and exempting those cards from the prior‑estimate requirement under Ohio Revised Code §301.27(E) for calendar year 2026. The resolution specifies allowed uses—work‑related food, fuel, minor emergency vehicle repairs, lodging and telephone—and requires that total charges not exceed appropriated line‑item amounts.

Commissioners also approved a waiver of county auditor administrative TIF fees for the City of Washington Court House up to $25,000 under O.R.C. §319.54, effective Jan. 1, 2026; the agreement requires record‑keeping of waived fees and remains in effect until amended or revoked.

Routine budget actions were recorded: the board approved multiple appropriation modifications, advances (including a $71,000 advance to a CDBG allocation), additional appropriations and reductions. Several travel and training authorizations were granted for commissioners and county staff, and the meeting closed with unanimous adjournment.

Votes at a glance • Payment of presented bills — motion carried, Anderson/Garland/Fleak, unanimous. • Amendment: Mended Reeds, Inc. — approved, Fleak (mover)/Garland (second), unanimous; contract maximum increased to $115,000. • Change Order No. 1 — 2025 Chip Seal Program (Miller Mason Paving Co.) — approved, Garland (mover)/Fleak (second), net contract price reduced by $10,486.18; time unchanged. • Law‑enforcement contracts (Bloomingburg, Jeffersonville, Milledgeville) at $30/hr — each approved, motions carried unanimously. • Verdantas professional services agreement — authorized, fee not to exceed $758,316; unanimous. • Janitorial contracts (Fine Point Cleaning Services; GSF‑USA) and copier lease (Waltz Business Solutions) — approved; unanimous. • Resolution authorizing sheriff credit‑card use (ORC §301.27(E)) — adopted; unanimous. • Road vacation and dedication — adopted; unanimous. • TIF administrative‑fee waiver for City of Washington Court House (up to $25,000, O.R.C. §319.54) — adopted; unanimous.

What it means Most votes were routine and unanimous, moving forward vendor contracts, inspection services and local intergovernmental agreements that will be implemented in 2026. The Verdantas agreement and the Mended Reeds amendment represent the largest near‑term county expenditures recorded in the journal; the TIF fee waiver and village policing contracts are likely to affect municipal partners' budgets and service arrangements next year. The chip‑seal change order reduced the county’s contract price by about $10,500 without changing the project schedule.

The board is scheduled to reconvene at its next regularly scheduled meeting.