EATON – The Preble County Board of Commissioners met with the Preble County Board of Elections (BOE) on Monday, April 10, to discuss the BOE’s request for the creation of a new “special fund” for its department.

The commissioners inquired of the BOE members attending, Chair Terri Hans, Director Lisa Boggs, Deputy Director Leslie Evans and member Lisa Bruns, the difference between the newly requested fund and a special election fund issued in 2017.

“The special election fund established in 2017 was required by the Secretary of State’s office. Anybody that’s having a special election in August has to pre-pay for that. That’s why that was established, for that money that was pre-paid to go into that fund only. And then it gets transferred to the general fund,” the BOE explained.

BOE officials went on to explain the new fund would be used for “chargeback” money, rather than sending said money into the general fund of the county. Commissioner David Haber proposed absolving the 2017 special election fund, but the BOE requested the 2017 special election fund be left intact until it is no longer mandated by the state.

According to the BOE directors, “a lot of other counties” have similar funds to the one being requested, listing Montogomery County as their example. The commissioners requested the BOE make a list of local and nearby counties who have said funds and report back to the board on their results.

In other business:

The commissioners approved the resignation of Nikolas Soder from the Preble County Sheriff’s Office. According to the commissioners, Soder accepted a position with the Ohio State Patrol.

Reach Nathan Hoskins at 937-683-4057.