Adams County reports new Dog & Kennel ready, updates on Cherry Fork sewer and Training Center activity

Dog Warden Donnie Swayne told the board Dec. 8 that all inspections at the new Adams County Dog & Kennel have been completed and passed by the State of Ohio, camera and security systems are online, and staff were moving supplies and animals to the new facility that day. He said phones from Spectrum remain outstanding and roadside signage and a mailbox still need installation.

Economic Development Director Paul Worley updated the board on several local projects. Construction on the Cherry Fork Sewer Project continues, and the concrete sidewalk at the Adams County Welcome Center has been poured. Worley reported that the Adams County Training Center’s adult HVAC program will begin Jan. 12, 2026, with four students already enrolled and room for additional participants; he also said Meals on Wheels has relocated to the facility, prompting a rise in senior activities such as chair yoga in the cafeteria.

Worley noted an incident at the Training Center where a semi delivering to Family Dollar knocked down a light pole. He also said a township trustees’ meeting concerning HB 540 would be held Dec. 8 with Representative Justin Pizzulli present and that The Nature Conservancy plans a meeting at the Training Center on Dec. 10 at 10:00 a.m. to discuss a proposed payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement.

The board reviewed the 2025 Delinquent Tax Assessment Collection report presented by Treasurer Lisa Newman and the prosecutor’s office and discussed creating an in-house IT employee position to meet ongoing service demands across county entities.