Washington County commissioners approve appropriations, grants and contracts and name March as American Red Cross Month

The Washington County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on March 12, 2026, and unanimously approved a slate of budget moves, grant agreements and contracts, and adopted a resolution recognizing March as American Red Cross Month.

President Charlie L. Schilling called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. and the board first approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of the March 5 regular meeting by unanimous roll call. Commissioners Eddie D. Place and Ronald G. Nohe moved and seconded routine items throughout the meeting; all motions reported in the minutes passed by unanimous votes of the three-member board.

The board approved additional appropriations totaling $530,000 across three accounts — $130,000 to County General (account 1000-41-101-580000), $200,000 to the Behavioral Health Board (2610-34-610-530000) and $200,000 to the Behavioral Health Levy (2611-34-610-530001) — and authorized transfers including $106,671.15 from Budget Stabilization and several transfers within the Opioid Remediation fund (listed in the minutes as $12,922.19; $29,764.00; $431.58; $6,882.23).

The board also approved cataloged fiscal housekeeping items: the Auditor-prepared list of bills for payment, a set of Then & Now certificates, and travel and training reimbursements for county staff including visits and conferences for Children Services, Family & Children First and the 911 director.

Commissioners certified a Satisfaction of Mortgage for a 2016 WMCAP loan executed by Mary Stewart of Belpre after receiving a $2,315 payoff and authorized the Recorder to discharge the recorded lien.

On grants and contracts, the board approved a subgrant agreement with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, Office of Criminal Justice Services (Subgrant No. 2026-BW-LEC-90462) to fund unlimited Axon body-camera data storage for two years; the OCJS award amount is $22,800.92 for the July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 award period. The board also approved a subrecipient agreement obligating $6,500 of America 250‑Ohio grant funding to the City of Belpre for America 250 activities through Nov. 30, 2026.

Human Resources briefed the board on an update to the County’s CEBCO insurance policy: when an employee moves between county departments that carry different insurance plans without a break in service, the county will waive the new‑hire waiting period; employees who did not previously carry insurance must observe the usual waiting period or enroll at the next open enrollment.

The Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) presented two Title IV‑D contracts that the board approved: a contract with the Washington County Clerk of Courts to purchase IV‑D filing services at a unit rate of $16.09 (total $10,458.35, effective Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026), and a contract with the Washington County Court of Common Pleas — Juvenile Division for magistrate services at $242.18 per hour (total $72,654.03, effective Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026). The minutes state both contracts were certified to comply with Title IV‑D of the Social Security Act, applicable provisions of 45 CFR, and Division 5101:12 of the Ohio Administrative Code.

During the meeting’s comments, Sherry Ellem of the County Health Department reminded the public of a District Advisory Council meeting to appoint a Health Department board member. Teresa Judson, the county Recorder, noted that America 250 commemorative coins are on sale locally and pointed attendees to the county CVB for event listings. President Schilling commented that the Commissioners adopted a flat 2026 budget and cautioned that if the county carries forward too much in carryover funds they would consider rescinding taxes; he said the same principle applies to townships and schools.

The board adjourned at 9:57 a.m. after unanimous approval of the adjournment motion.

Votes at a glance: - Approve agenda — mover: Eddie D. Place; second: Ronald G. Nohe; outcome: approved (Schilling, Place, Nohe: aye). - Approve minutes (Mar. 5) — mover: Eddie D. Place; second: Ronald G. Nohe; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Bills for payment — mover: Eddie D. Place; second: Ronald G. Nohe; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Resolution: American Red Cross Month (March 2026) — mover: Eddie D. Place; second: Ronald G. Nohe; outcome: approved (unanimous). Sharon Kesselring, representing the American Red Cross Ohio River Valley Chapter, reported the chapter responded to 21 events in 2025. - Additional appropriations (County General $130,000; Behavioral Health Board $200,000; Behavioral Health Levy $200,000) — approved (unanimous). - Transfers (Budget Stabilization $106,671.15; multiple Opioid Remediation transfers totaling listed amounts) — approved (unanimous). - Then & Now certificates — approved (unanimous). - Travel reimbursements for named staff — approved (unanimous). - Satisfaction of Mortgage (Mary Stewart, Belpre) — approved (unanimous); payoff received $2,315. - OCJS Subgrant (Axon data storage) Subgrant No. 2026-BW-LEC-90462 — award $22,800.92 for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2027 — approved (unanimous). - America 250 subrecipient agreement with City of Belpre — $6,500 obligation — approved (unanimous). - CEBCO policy update (HR) — approved (unanimous). - CSEA Title IV‑D contract with Clerk of Courts — $10,458.35 (unit rate $16.09) — approved (unanimous). - CSEA Title IV‑D contract with Common Pleas Juvenile Division — $72,654.03 (hourly $242.18) — approved (unanimous).

Next steps: the approved contracts and appropriations will be filed in the Commissioners’ office as indicated in the minutes; the board noted upcoming Finance Committee meeting on March 25 and the courthouse closure for Memorial Day.