Tuscarawas County commissioners authorize Towpath Trail design negotiations and approve a slate of routine measures

New Philadelphia — The Tuscarawas County Board of Commissioners on May 6 authorized negotiations with Environmental Design Group to develop design and engineering cost proposals for the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail Extension II and approved a series of routine county measures, including supplemental appropriations and annexation filings.

Commissioner Kristin Zemis presided at the meeting. Commissioners voted unanimously among those present to carry the measures (Commissioner Zemis and Commissioner Mitch Pace voting yes; Commissioner Greg Ress was absent for the meeting).

The board authorized the Park Department to negotiate with Environmental Design Group for design and engineering services on the Towpath Trail Extension II, identified in county documents as PID 124456. Jesse Rothacher, Park Director, said the Park Department received an ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program award for SFY 2028 and may use up to $200,000 of the grant for engineering and design costs.

In infrastructure action, the board approved a professional services agreement with ADR & Associates, Ltd. to begin the Moravian Trail Road waterline extension project. Commissioner Kristin Zemis noted that resident Jerry Debolt was present to support moving the project forward; minutes record that "Mr. Debolt thanked the Commissioner for everything they did to help him." No dollar amount for the ADR & Associates contract was specified in the minutes.

The board also approved a $4,100 quote from Mills Headstone Cleaning to restore several memorial stones at the courthouse in New Philadelphia. In a written proposal included in the record, owner Zachary Mills wrote, "My name is Zachary Mills, Owner of Mills Headstone Cleaning based out of Coshocton, Ohio," and described an eco‑friendly, low‑pressure hand‑pump cleaning process and line‑item pricing for each memorial.

Votes at a glance

- RESOLUTION 328‑2026 — Approve minutes from May 4, 2026: approved (Zemis, Pace yes; Ress absent). - RESOLUTION 329‑2026 — Supplemental appropriations: approved. Items include $100,000 to Auditor (E-4060-Y018-000) for claims and $400,000 to Road & Bridge (2008-191-33-503001) for OPWC contracts. - RESOLUTION 330‑2026 — Inter‑fund transfer/advance: approved. Transfer of $16,474.25 from County General to Public Assistance (May 2026 mandated share). - RESOLUTION 331‑2026 — Declare obsolete — office equipment (Prosecutor): approved (two devices to be disposed per ORC 307.12(B)). - RESOLUTION 332‑2026 — Dog & Kennel Report (April 2026): approved (report submitted by Elizabeth Lewis, Facility & Adoption Specialist). - RESOLUTION 333‑2026 — Quote approval — Mills Headstone Cleaning: approved; total project cost $4,100. - RESOLUTION 334‑2026 — Authorize negotiations — Environmental Design Group — Towpath Trail Extension II (PID 124456): approved; project funded by ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program award (SFY 2028); Park Department may use up to $200,000 for engineering/design. - RESOLUTION 335‑2026 — Authorize subrecipient agreements — State’s 2026 Building Demolition & Site Revitalization Program Grant (multiple municipalities): approved, contingent on state grant agreement and legal review. - RESOLUTION 336‑2026 — Approve Treasurer’s investments (April 2026): approved. - RESOLUTION 337‑2026 — Authorize professional services agreement — ADR & Associates, Ltd. — Moravian Trail Road waterline extension: approved. - RESOLUTIONS 339‑2026 & 340‑2026 — Enter annexations onto the journal (Heil; McInturf filings): approved; referred to Prosecutor and Engineer under O.R.C. 709.023. - RESOLUTION 342‑2025 — Pay bills: approved.

What this means

- Trail planning: The authorization to negotiate with Environmental Design Group advances design work on the Towpath Trail Extension II and uses federal/state transportation funding (ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program). The minutes note the Park Department is allowed to apply up to $200,000 of the grant award to engineering and design costs.

- Local infrastructure: The Moravian Trail Road waterline extension moves forward with a services agreement; the meeting record shows local property owner Jerry Debolt in attendance and thanking commissioners for their assistance.

- Routine fiscal actions: The board approved supplemental appropriations to cover county claims and OPWC contracts, an inter‑fund transfer for mandated shares, and the Treasurer’s April investments — all recorded as approved by recorded roll call (Zemis and Pace voting yes; Ress absent).

Details and authorities

The minutes record the board referencing Ohio Revised Code 307.12(B) in declaring county equipment obsolete and O.R.C. 709.023 for entering annexation petitions onto the Commissioners Journal. The Towpath Trail action cites an ODOT Transportation Alternatives Program award for SFY 2028 (PID 124456). The demolition and site revitalization subrecipient agreements are contingent on the county’s grant agreement with the State of Ohio and legal review.

Next steps

The minutes show that the Towpath Trail project will proceed to negotiation of a design proposal with Environmental Design Group; subrecipient agreements will proceed after the county’s grant agreement with the State and legal review; annexation petitions will be forwarded to the county Prosecutor and Engineer for legal review. The board concluded routine business and moved to approve payment of listed bills.