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Fayette County commissioners approve contract changes, water-plant amendment, budget moves and K-9 purchase
Summary
At their March 9 meeting, Fayette County Commissioners unanimously approved payment of bills, advanced and appropriated funds for airport projects, authorized bids for a county pavement-marking program, approved major change orders on water-system contracts that incorporate City of Wilmington requirements, accepted a $133,270.92 water-plant amendment, and authorized the purchase of a trained K-9.
The Fayette County Board of Commissioners — James D. Garland, Tony Anderson and Donald L. Fleak — unanimously approved a package of routine payments, budget moves and contract actions at their March 9, 2026, meeting in Washington Court House, Ohio.
Commissioner Tony Anderson moved to pay the bills as presented and to approve a set of related advances and appropriations; Commissioner Donald L. Fleak seconded the motion, and the vote was recorded as three ayes. The board approved two advances to airport projects totaling $60,000 ($25,500 for apron pavement sealing and $34,500 for a wind cone) and an additional General Fund transfer appropriation of $107,609.35.
Why it matters: the meeting bundled financial housekeeping with larger infrastructure decisions that affect the county's water and wastewater projects and the county airport.
Major procurement and contract actions
The commissioners authorized the Fayette County Engineer, Jason Little, to advertise for bids on the 2026 Fayette County Pavement Marking Program, with an engineer's estimate of $113,975.65 and an April 6, 2026, bid opening. The authorization reserves the county's right to reject any or all bids.
The board approved Contract Change Order No. 1 for Kelchner Inc. on the Galaxy Water and Sewer Extension. The change order covers additional work to address conflicts with discharge flow and pipe alignments, including bypass pumping and removal and reinstallation of an 8-inch PVC pipe, increasing the contract total to $2,630,211.99.
The commissioners approved Change Order No. 1 to the Allied Technical Services contract (Rattlesnake Water System Improvements, Contract C-1) and Change Order No. 2 to Bowen Engineering's Caesars Creek Intake Contract (Contract C-2). Both change orders incorporate requirements of the Water Supply Agreement with the City of Wilmington. The incorporated provisions require that the City of Wilmington be named an intended third-party beneficiary of the contracts, be added as an additional insured on specified contractor policies, and be named co-obligee on surety bonds where required. The change orders also require Ohio Revised Code-compliant bonding (citing ORC §§153.57 and 153.571) and provide the City an opportunity to review proposed change orders related to City-owned infrastructure prior to execution.
Water treatment plant amendment
The board accepted an Amended Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) amendment for the Water Treatment Plant Contract A, authorizing replacement of slide gates with weir gates at the lagoons. The county recorded construction cost ($123,399.00), CMAR fee ($5,864.45), and contingency ($4,010.47), for a total change amount of $133,270.92, with installation scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2026.
Public safety purchases
Acting on a recommendation from Sheriff Vernon Stanforth, the commissioners authorized the purchase of six iEvac smoke/fire hoods for the Fayette County Sheriff's Office (estimated $1,517.75) and authorized purchase of a trained police K-9 from Von Der Haus Gill German Shepherds & Police K-9 Academy (estimated $18,000). The board also approved retiring county-owned K-9 Odra as surplus property and allowing Deputy Jason Havens, the current handler, to adopt the dog.
Executive sessions and personnel
The board recessed twice into executive session: first at 1:30 p.m. to discuss a personnel issue (reconvened at 1:45 p.m.), and later at 3:15 p.m. for a confidential economic development project (reconvened at 4:20 p.m.). No substantive outcomes from executive sessions were disclosed in the minutes.
Other business
The minutes record a long list of vendor payments and contract line items across county departments and authorized routine travel and emergency travel reimbursements for Department of Job & Family Services staff; individual per-trip allowances were recorded in the minutes. With no further business recorded, the board adjourned to its next regular meeting.
What happens next: The county will advertise the pavement-marking project on April 6, 2026, and contractors working on Rattlesnake and Caesars Creek intake work must comply with the newly incorporated City of Wilmington contractual and bonding requirements. The water-plant weir gate installation is scheduled for completion by July 1, 2026.
