Hancock County commissioners approve $1.73 million resurfacing contract and routine budget measures

The Hancock County Board of Commissioners on March 3 approved a slate of routine resolutions that included awarding the county’s 2026 cooperative road resurfacing contract and several budget and grant actions.

The most significant item on the agenda was the award of the Hancock Cooperative 2026 Road Resurfacing Program to The Shelly Company—Northwest, with the county’s portion reported as $1,734,360.40. Commissioner William Bateson moved approval and Commissioner Tim Bechtol seconded; the motion carried 3-0.

Why it matters: the resurfacing contract funds planned pavement work across county roads and will include resurfacing at the landfill entrance, a detail staff noted during the meeting. Approving the contract allows work to proceed this construction season and obligates the county share reported by staff.

Other financial and administrative measures approved unanimously included an authorization to pay listed purchase orders (Resolution #120-26); a $3,521.64 decrease to the recycling program fund (#5254) (Resolution #121-26); an additional appropriation of $235,200 to the General Fund #1001 (Resolution #122-26); and a transfer of $186,720.76 to the Courthouse Restoration Fund #4145 (Resolution #123-26).

The commissioners also approved facility and equipment contracts: replacement of a vehicle bay trolley system at a county BMV building ($1,597.00); straightening and welding a pedestrian railing to the courthouse ($600.00); and modification/replacement of an incompatible fire protection system at the Hancock County Justice Center ($5,280.00). Each of those resolutions was moved by Bateson, seconded by Bechtol and passed 3-0.

The board approved grant-related actions: a reimbursement payment of $240 for a grease trap cleaning (Resolution #130-26); entry into a State of Ohio Community Development Block Grant agreement to fund approximately 1 mile of sidewalk replacement in the Village of Jenera (Resolution #131-26); and authorization to prepare and submit a Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) PY2026 application and to accept Great Lakes Community Action Partnership for administrative services (Resolution #132-26). All passed unanimously.

Votes at a glance: every resolution on the agenda that recorded a motion in the transcript was moved by William Bateson, seconded by Tim Bechtol, and approved in a 3-0 vote by Commissioners Jeffrey Hunker, Timothy Bechtol and William Bateson.

Next steps: vendor contracts and grant applications will proceed under the terms approved; staff noted Norfolk Southern had not yet reviewed a related work agreement, and the resurfacing contractor’s scope will include the landfill entrance. Auditor Charity Rauschenberg indicated that carryover and encumbrance figures will be used in budget tracking going forward.