Washington County Commissioner Kevin Ritter, right, talks about additional appropriations during a commission meeting Thursday morning as Commissioner James Booth, center, and County Fiscal Manager Ben Cowdery, left, listen. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)
Washington County approved additional appropriations and funds transfers Thursday.
During a Washington County Commission meeting Thursday morning, Commissioners James Booth and Kevin Ritter approved two additional appropriations and four funds transfers. Commissioner Charlie Schilling was not present at the meeting.
The commissioners approved an additional appropriation of $10,000 for the Washington County Sheriff’s security and transport fund.
“At the half-way point in the year we have already exhausted our 2024 appropriation of $10,100,” Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mark Warden said in a letter to the commission.
“So far this year deputies have performed four long distance extraditions. We have an upcoming extradition and find that our funds are depleted.”
Booth stated that the number of extraditions the Sheriff’s Office handles is high.
“So (if) we have criminals we will go get them,” he said.
The commissioners approved an additional appropriation of $60,000 for postage for the county general fund.
County Fiscal Manager Ben Cowdery said the $60,000 is for postage for the rest of the year.
According to a U.S. Postal Service media release, it raised its rates by approximately 7.8% and the new rates took effect on July 14.
The commissioners also approved a transfer for $150,000 from the Washington County Department of Jobs and Family Services fund to the budget stabilization fund.
According to a letter from Washington County DJFS Director Flite Freimann, the money is the department paying back the general fund for an advance of $150,000 it received from the commissioners in May.
They also approved a transfer of $1,875 for the county auditor’s office from contract services to training and education.
The commissioners approved two transfers for the Washington County Family and Children First Council Two for $11.88 from salaries to life insurance and $97.04 from health insurance to life insurance.
Other items addressed at the meeting include:
* Approved paying bills of $2,111,122.45 including a payment to RDR Utility Services Group LLC, who is doing work on the Devola Sewer project, for $503,980.71.
* Approved to Then and Now items – which are purchase orders that are for more than $100 – totaling $1,935.
* Approved paying a $1.81 late fee to American Electric Power for the County Engineer’s Office.
*Approved the appointment of Tasha Werry to the Southeastern Ohio Port Authority.
*Approved distributing Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) funds associated with the Wayne National Forest that total $57,269.
*Approved a change order for Atlantic Emergency Solutions to have 45 extra days to put equipment on a truck for the Reno Volunteer Fire Department
