Washington County commissioners approve routine budget moves, grant and courthouse renovations; back local health and infrastructure projects

The Washington County Board of County Commissioners met March 5 and approved a slate of routine fiscal and project actions, including budget transfers, grant agreements and contract awards.

In unanimous votes, commissioners approved a transfer of $437,587.39 from the county’s Budget Stabilization account to cover an operational line item and authorized additional appropriations for jail and engineering accounts. They also approved a list of bills for payment and several Then & Now certificates filed by county departments.

The board approved a $300,650 subaward grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) for the 2025 Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) Program (CDFA #14.228, Grant #25CHIP-1CY-25CDBG). According to the motion, the grant will fund seven owner rehabilitation projects and 13 owner home repairs, and the partnering jurisdictions are the cities of Belpre and Marietta. The grant term runs Dec. 1, 2025, through April 30, 2028.

Commissioners also awarded a Notice to Proceed for a magistrate office renovation at the courthouse to Promanco, Inc., on a contract of $264,782.28. The project is expected to reach substantial completion 130 days from the start date.

The board voted to extend the county’s bulk fuel contract with Sherlock Oil Company for three years, through March 31, 2029, and approved travel and training reimbursements for Children Services staff and other department employees who will attend regional conferences and required site visits in March.

As part of routine actions, commissioners approved multiple letters of support: for Beverly’s Safe Routes to School application to replace sidewalks and install pedestrian beacons; for Beverly’s FY27 Community Project Funding request to upgrade an electrical system at the wastewater plant (original system from 1971); for Akron Children’s Hospital’s Belpre Regional Health Center request for Congressional funding (described in the motion as a $36 million investment expected to create 20 full‑time jobs); and for Memorial Health System’s request for Congressionally Directed Spending to expand the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Marietta. President Charlie L. Schilling said he appreciated Marietta Memorial’s role in improving local health care.

The board acknowledged receipt of the sheriff’s February monthly report, which showed the jail population at 251 and $2,900 received for housing prisoners from other jurisdictions.

The meeting adjourned at 10:06 a.m.

Votes at a glance - Approve agenda (added travel for Children Services): unanimous (Schilling, Place, Nohe — ayes). - Approve minutes of Feb. 26, 2026: unanimous. - Approve bills for payment: unanimous. - Adopt resolution recognizing March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: unanimous; President Schilling read the resolution and presented Kim Ferrell a certificate. - Additional appropriations (Jail and Engineer): unanimous (amounts listed in meeting record). - Transfer from Budget Stabilization to account 5118-23-102-423000: $437,587.39 — unanimous. - ODOD CHIP grant agreement (Grant #25CHIP-1CY-25CDBG): $300,650 — unanimous. - Magistrate renovation Notice to Proceed to Promanco, Inc.: $264,782.28 — unanimous. - Sherlock Oil Company contract extension (fuel delivery) through March 31, 2029 — unanimous. - Multiple letters of support for community projects and health system funding requests — unanimous.

What’s next Many of the items approved set implementation steps in motion — grant subaward activities, a courthouse renovation and a fuel contract extension — that will be carried out by county staff and contractors. The record of bills, Then & Now certificates and travel requests remain on file in the Commissioners Office.