Tuscarawas County commissioners approve routine appropriations, table Recorder travel request and donate surplus vehicle to Buckeye Career Center

The Tuscarawas County Board of Commissioners met June 24 and approved a series of routine financial and administrative measures while tabling one travel‑related appropriation for further information.

Commissioner Greg Ress, presiding, and Commissioner Mitch Pace voted to approve the minutes from the June 22 meeting and a set of Then & Now expenditures. Commissioner Kristin Zemis was recorded absent for roll calls.

The board adopted supplemental appropriations to cover workers' compensation charges for the Humane Society ($48.37) and the Dog & Kennel ($355.59). During that discussion Commissioner Ress asked whether an out‑of‑county travel form had been submitted in support of a separate Recorder travel appropriation; Budget Director Mellissa Clark told the board the funds would come from the Recorder’s Special Revenue Fund but no breakdown of travel costs had been provided.

The board therefore voted to table the Recorder Lori Gardner's request for a $1,000 supplemental appropriation to cover travel, lodging and meals until the request is clarified. The motion to table was made by Commissioner Mitch Pace and seconded by Commissioner Greg Ress.

The commissioners approved a transfer in the Sheriff’s budget to cover worker‑comp charges ($3,510) and authorized an inter‑fund transfer/advance of $150,000 from Children Services to Public Assistance.

On personnel and training matters, the board also voted to table an out‑of‑state travel request for the Public Defender's Office, as recommended by Public Defender Director Nicole Stephan. The request would have sent Andrew Karpinski to Atlanta July 10–12 for Gideon’s Promise CORE 101 training at an estimated expense of $300; the board deferred action pending further review.

The board declared a 2008 Chevrolet Impala (VIN 2G1WB58K689166198, license OD 7402) surplus and authorized its donation to Buckeye Career Center under Ohio Revised Code §307.12. The resolution states Tuscarawas County Job & Family Services Facilities Director David Riker had declared the vehicle obsolete and that TCJFS Director Veronica Spidell will provide the vehicle to Buckeye Career Center Assistant Principal Trent Edie to place the donation on the BCC board agenda. The resolution notes the vehicle's approximate fair market value is consistent with the statutory criteria for donations to other political subdivisions.

The board granted a flood‑plain development permit to Michael Hickman to fill property behind an existing garage at 3866 Eastport Rd SE in Mill Township, based on a submission from Floodplain Coordinator Lee Carl Finley.

The commissioners also adopted a resolution directing the county to perform a cost‑analysis study under R.C. 955.17 to determine the costs associated with providing services for seized and impounded dogs, including direct costs (food, water, housing utilities, medication) and reasonable indirect costs borne by other county offices, and to use those findings in any fee decisions under R.C. 955.12, 955.15 and 955.16.

Most votes recorded during the meeting show Commissioners Ress and Pace voting yes and Commissioner Zemis absent. The minutes list the motions and roll‑call votes for each resolution; items that were tabled will return to a future meeting after staff provides the requested clarifications.

The meeting record lists the following formal actions (resolution numbers quoted as in the minutes): approved minutes (463‑2026); Then & Now expenditures (464‑2026); supplemental appropriations (465‑2026); tabled supplemental appropriation for the Recorder (466‑2026); transfer of funds (467‑2026); inter‑fund transfer/advance (468‑2026); tabled out‑of‑state travel (469‑2026); declare vehicle surplus and donate (470‑2026); flood‑plain permit (471‑2026); adopt cost‑analysis for seized/impounded dogs (472‑2026); pay bills (473‑2026).