Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance And Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Washington County commissioners approve grants, contracts, union pact and bridge change orders
Summary
At their March 19 meeting the Washington County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved multiple routine items including a $200,000 CDBG grant, release of CDBG funds totaling $936,100, participation in an opioid settlement, a CSEA contract and a three-year collective bargaining agreement with wage increases; officials also approved four brownfield Phase 1 assessments and change orders that raise the T‑32 bridge project cost to $649,681.68.
The Washington County Board of Commissioners on March 19 unanimously approved a package of grants, contracts, appropriations and other routine business, including federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) actions, a county collective bargaining agreement and engineering change orders that increased the cost of a bridge replacement project.
Commissioners voted to accept a $200,000 subaward from the Ohio Department of Development (CDFA #14.228, Grant #25NR-1CY-25CDBG) to fund replacement of an asbestos-containing waterline, purchase park equipment and buy fire-protection equipment for the Village of Beverly; the agreement covers Sept. 1, 2025–Oct. 31, 2027. They also approved a Request for Release of Funds and Certification for 2025 CDBG Repair and Rehabilitation assistance, listing $300,650 for Repair Assistance/Home Repair and $635,450 for Rehabilitation Assistance/Private Rehab.
The board approved participation in a Combined Subdivision Participation and Release Form for the Six Remnant Defendants Settlement Agreement related to the national opioid litigation dated Feb. 3, 2026, electing Washington County to participate and release claims against the six named defendants.
On personnel and contracts, commissioners approved a Title IV-D contract between the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) and the Washington County Court of Common Pleas — Domestic Relations to purchase magistrate services at $267.34 per hour for a total of $60,152.30 for the 2026 calendar year. Separately, the board approved a three-year collective bargaining agreement between CSEA and Local 772B, Ohio Council 8 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, effective April 1, 2026–March 31, 2029, with wage increases of 5%, 3% and 3% over the term. Kim Lowers of CSEA said the negotiation "went well" and that higher wages should help retain staff.
Under brownfields and environmental planning, the commissioners approved four Phase 1 property assessment proposals from Partners Environmental under the EPA Brownfield Coalition Grant for the former Harmar Elementary School (Marietta), Landmark Market Street Silos (Waverly), the former State Hospital (Cambridge) and the Southern Wood Piedmont site (Waverly). Each Phase 1 assessment carries a fee of $4,200.
Engineering items included approval of Change Orders #2 ($6,318.80) and #3 ($29,915.90) for the Township Road 32 (T‑32) bridge replacement (contractor: Black Horse Bridge Construction) citing changes in field conditions; the new total project cost is $649,681.68.
All motions listed on the agenda were approved by unanimous roll-call votes recorded as follows: Charlie Schilling — aye; Eddie Place — aye; Greg Nohe — aye.
Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda — passed (unanimous) - Approve minutes (Mar. 12, 2026) — passed (unanimous) - Bills for payment — passed (unanimous) - Additional appropriations (Residential Public Infrastructure) — $720,000 and $30,000 — passed (unanimous) - ODOD 2025 CDBG Grant Agreement — $200,000 — passed (unanimous) - CDBG Request for Release of Funds — $300,650 and $635,450 — passed (unanimous) - National Opioid Settlement Participation (Six Remnant Defendants) — passed (unanimous) - CSEA Title IV-D Contract (magistrate services) — $60,152.30 — passed (unanimous) - CSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement (Local 772B) — wage increases 5%/3%/3% — passed (unanimous) - Brownfield Phase 1 assessments (four sites) — each $4,200 — passed (unanimous) - Engineer change orders #2 & #3 for T‑32 bridge — net increase $36,234.70; new total $649,681.68 — passed (unanimous)
The meeting agenda and supporting documents (bills, Then & Now certificates, grant agreements and proposals) were noted as being on file in the Commissioners' Office. The board adjourned at 10:22 a.m.
