Williams County commissioners approve routine measures, discuss cybersecurity, paging and Montpelier Solar funds

Williams County commissioners met and approved a series of routine resolutions while flagging several operational issues for staff follow-up. The board approved minutes from Feb. 17 and the meeting agenda, adopted a supplemental appropriation for the commissioners' office and common pleas court, authorized a memorandum of understanding to support early care and education application processing, approved a five-year contract extension with Fiddler Technologies for the recorder’s office and accepted a CDBG critical infrastructure grant for Almond Valley.

Terry, a participant who provided the mayor’s meeting update, told colleagues that cybersecurity was discussed at the mayor’s meeting and suggested the county explore sharing cybersecurity support with smaller villages rather than each locality duplicating efforts. "I said I would bring it back to you guys and we could talk about that and engage Jeremy maybe and just see how much time is it gonna take to help them," Terry said. Commissioners asked staff to assess the workload and report back.

The board approved a memorandum of understanding between the Williams County Department of Job and Family Services and the Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission to provide a training stipend and application-processing incentive for early care and education, described in the meeting record as a cost not to exceed $22,500 for the term listed as Dec. 1, 2025, through Nov. 30, 2026. The commission also recorded acceptance of a CDBG critical infrastructure grant for Almond Valley described in the minutes as $500,000 with an effective date of Sept. 1, 2025; the transcript lists October as the project end month but does not specify the year.

Commissioners approved a contract extension with Fiddler Technologies for the recorder’s office covering 03/01/2025–03/01/2030. The meeting record references per-dock fees but the rates are unclear in the transcript and should be verified in the contract documentation before implementation.

A commissioner reported a payment from Montpelier Solar tied to a prior tax-abatement agreement and said the company committed to return funds to the community, including a $65,000 contribution coordinated with parks staff for a beautification project. The transcript's reference to the one-time tax-abatement payment amount is unclear and should be confirmed in the county’s financial records; the commissioner noted the $65,000 parks contribution had been transferred into county accounts.

Commissioners also discussed recurring problems with the county paging system (referred to in the record as “Mark’s paging”), concerns that a larger antenna proposal prompted opposition from EMS, and the need to reconvene an 'old business' meeting monthly to track follow-ups. "We have not had that. I'm gonna try and coordinate schedules where everybody's here so we can do that," Terry said, adding the group should revisit the paging issue in the next 30 days.

Procedural notes: motions for the listed resolutions were recorded as moved and seconded and noted in the minutes as carried. The meeting record includes a statement that "No quorum is met" early in the proceeding and subsequently records motions carried; the transcript does not supply formal vote tallies or full roll-call votes for the approved items, and the clerk or county records should be consulted to confirm quorum and vote details.

The meeting concluded with a North Annex update announced for 1:00 p.m. and a formal adjournment.