EATON — The Preble County Commissioners approved a landfill rate increase during their regularly scheduled Wednesday, Jan. 18, meeting.
A resolution raised the rate for clean, hard fill by $10 per load for in- and out-of-county commercial and out-of-county residential customers. The resolution does not affect Preble County residents disposing of clean, hard fill.
During a regularly scheduled update meeting with the Preble County Emergency Management Agency, director David Anderson advised the board on the safe room project. The project permits residents to receive up to $4,875 to offset costs for rooms designed to protect families from tornadoes or other hazardous situations.
Anderson also questioned why plans to hire a clerk for his office were put on hold.
“I got an email from (Commission Clerk) Connie (Crowell) saying you guys sent letters out thanking everybody for coming in except for one person who declined it and that nothing was going to be handled right now. Why? I thought you guys decided I needed help up there and now you say, ‘no I don’t,’” Anderson said.
The board went into executive session to discuss employment of county employee. No action was taken. Later in the afternoon, the board entered executive session for a second time to discuss employment of county employees. No action was taken.
In other news:
• Preble County Engineer Kyle Cross updated the board on the purchasing process for a piece of equipment, Gradall, used to clear ditches. Cross advised their current model is 15 years old and the back- up unit is ‘closer to 30.’ The board approved a resolution (3-0) to join the National Joint Purchasing Alliance, at no charge, so Cross would be able to purchase the equipment. Cross noted that due to the uniqueness of the unit only one vendor in Ohio sells it.
• The commissioners authorized Children Services payments of more than $76,000 in the following amounts: $3,131.00; $9,321.70; $6,541 (Seeds for Life); $6,967.87 (Eastway); $9,283.88 (Wernle Youth & Family Treatment Center); $10,385 (Maria’s House of Hope); $7,869 (Daniel L. Brown); $23,265.79 (Children Services Agape); $23,894.40 (Choices) and $6,924 (Adolescent Oasis).
• Commissioners noted that the first two public hearings for the 2017 Community Development Block Grant will be held in their chambers on Monday, Feb. 6 at 10 a.m. and Monday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m. In 2016, the villages of Gratis and Lewisburg were awarded grants, totaling more than $300,000.
• They reappointed Misti Spillman and Stephanie Garrett for three-year terms to the Preble County Convention and Visitors Bureau board. The bureau still has three or four vacancies, Crowell advised the commissioners.
