Sheriff urges county to fold drug task force under sheriff’s office; commissioners approve transfers with one abstention

Barry Bridal, Warren County sheriff, asked the Board of County Commissioners to accept assets and assume operational oversight of the Greater Warren County Drug Task Force under a memorandum of understanding, after the council of governments voted to disband. Bridal said the move would streamline operations, reduce duplicative governance and preserve security by avoiding open meetings for sensitive work.

"We have an opportunity here to reduce government, increase safety measures, save money, and certainly make this organization operate way more efficiently," Bridal said, asking the board to approve three related resolutions. He listed the items the county would assume — furniture and four small contracts that include a case management system, an equitable sharing program, an alarm system and copier service — and said funding comes from HIDA, donations and grants.

One commissioner said she needed more time to review audit responsibilities, long-term budget impacts and how other counties manage similar task forces; she expressed concern about assuming audit and contractual obligations without additional information and said she would abstain on the liability-transfer vote. Other commissioners argued that most Ohio task forces operate under MOUs and that moving the task force under county oversight would provide better fiscal oversight and align Warren County with statewide practice.

After deliberation the board voted on three resolutions: transferring cash balances to the Warren County Drug Task Force MOU fund; accepting assets and inventory into the county-managed fund; and transferring financial obligations and liabilities from the council of governments to the Warren County Board of County Commissioners on behalf of the task force. The clerk conducted roll-call votes; the final resolution passed with two yes votes and one abstention.