County administrator says county will temporarily cover delayed lead‑safe renovation draws from general fund

County Administrator Erica L. Preston told the Auglaize County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 24 that draws for lead‑safe renovation funds had been delayed and that the contractor should be paid temporarily from the county’s general revenue fund, with the county to be reimbursed when state funds arrive.

"The Board agreed with this approach as the value in question was small," the meeting minutes say. Preston reported that state funds have been requested and will reimburse the general fund once received.

In the same report, Preston said the Board should schedule an entrance conference with the State Auditor; the Board indicated it wanted that conference scheduled. She also noted proposed House bills concerning tax changes and public‑records requests were under discussion and asked whether a county‑owned vehicle should be listed on GovDeals or reassigned to the Information Technology Department. The Board decided to list the vehicle on GovDeals, according to the minutes.

Preston additionally reported that Alexa Schwaderer, Solid Waste District Coordinator, updated a position description to include public‑education expectations.

Why it matters: temporarily using the general fund to cover contractor payments expedites ongoing renovation work but creates a reimbursement step that will require later accounting; scheduling the audit entrance conference initiates the formal audit process; disposition of surplus vehicles and updates to position descriptions affect county operations.

Next steps: county staff will process the temporary payment and await state reimbursement; the Board requested staff arrange the State Audit entrance conference; vehicle surplus listing will proceed on GovDeals.