CCAO | Counties Current Template

Justin Smith appointed to latest Sandusky County Commissioner

On April 20, Justin Smith was sworn in as the newest Sandusky County Commissioner, filling a vacancy caused by former commissioner Charlie Schwochow's retirement at the end of March. Commissioner Smith will also be the Republican Party candidate in the November election for the seat's unexpired term.

Commissioner Smith had previously served on the Fremont City Council from 2017 to 2023, before taking a seat on the Sandusky County Board of Elections. He had served on the board earlier, from 2010 to 2015.

Commission Smith also works as a permanent substitute teacher at Clyde High School of the Clyde-Green Springs Exempted Village School District.

Welcome to CCAO, Commissioner Smith!

Newly sworn in Sandusky County Commissioner Justin Smith (middle) with fellow commissioners Scott Miller (left) and Russ Zimmerman (right).

Photo courtesy of the Fremont News-Messenger.

Update on property tax abolition campaign

Last week, representatives of Ax Ohio Tax held a press conference to announce their progress on the signature collection efforts to abolish property taxes in Ohio.

The organizers indicated they have gathered roughly 305,000 signatures, meaning they are short of the signature threshold to place the amendment on the November ballot. They indicated that they have no plans to suspend their campaign.

The press conference was most likely intended to give supporters of the effort a boost of encouragement for them to continue gathering signatures.

Signature Requirement

As a reminder, to get on the ballot, the campaign must submit at least 413,488 valid signatures by July 1. This includes at least 5% of the 2022 gubernatorial election turnout in 44 of Ohio's 88 counties.

Based on the signature validity rate of prior citizen amendment campaigns, it is likely that Ax Ohio Tax will need to submit about 704,000 signatures to hit the 413,488 valid signature threshold. If the campaign does not submit the required number of valid signatures, it receives ten additional days to gather supplemental signatures.

If the campaign does not put the proposed amendment on the November 2026 ballot, it can continue to gather signatures for the November 2027 ballot. Gathered signatures are evergreen (although they may become invalid).

The signature thresholds are determined by the total number of votes cast in the prior gubernatorial election. Since 2026 is a gubernatorial election, the number of valid signatures that the campaign will need, both statewide and to meet the 44/88 county threshold, will change once the November election results are certified.

This may result in the campaign needing more signatures or fewer signatures, depending on statewide and county-level turnout.

CCAO continues to play an important role in the coalition that has been formed to oppose this dangerous proposal. For information about the potential effects of abolishing the property tax, you can visit ProtectPublicServices.org.

If you have questions concerning Ohioans to Protect Public Services, please contact Managing Director of Enterprise and Retirement Services Steve Caraway.

Government web presence accessibility requirement deadline delayed by one year

Last Monday, the U.S. Department of Justice released its Interim Final Rule (IFR) regarding accessibility of web information and services for state and local government entities.

The key provision of the IFR is that the compliance deadline has been delayed for a calendar year for all entities.

For counties with a population of at least 50,000, county websites must be compliant by April 26, 2027 (delayed from April 24, 2026), while all other counties must be compliant by April 26, 2028 (delayed from April 26, 2027).

The wider accessibility requirements are unchanged, only the compliance deadline. Counties could continue making changes to their digital presence to ensure accessibility with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

NACo held a webinar last week to discuss the extension and what is still expected of counties. The recording of the webinar is available here and the slide deck is available here.

NACo has also made a number of other resources available regarding the accessibility requirements, including a full analysis of the requirements and technology brief on web accessibility.

Pinnacle Partner

State & Federal

Auditor of State releases advisory on credit card convenience fees

Last week, Auditor of State Keith Faber released an advisory memo on the payment of credit card convenience fees by public officials.

Convenience fees are charges typically assessed by vendors or service providers for processing payments made via credit card. The advisory notes that these fees are increasingly a normal cost of doing business and may be difficult or impossible to eliminate.

That said, the Auditor of State does encourage public offices to explore direct payment options (such as ACH transfers or payment by check) to minimize these costs where possible. This encouragement includes the recommendation that a formal policy be established outlining when paying convenience fees is appropriate.

The advisory notes that auditors will not specifically target or question the routine occurrence of convenience fees.

Finally, the advisory clarifies that it only applies to convenience fees, not late fees or penalties.

You can review the memo here.

OhioMeansJobs In-Demand Job Week and virtual career fair coming in May

In-Demand Job Week

Ohio’s ninth annual In-Demand Jobs Week will take place May 4-8, 2026. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services invites businesses, schools, and community organizations to host events to spotlight the occupations powering Ohio’s economy.

In-Demand Jobs Week events are a great way to connect with students, job seekers, and community partners while raising awareness about your industry. Past activities have included job fairs, business tours, apprenticeship signings, hands-on demonstrations, and more.

Planning an event? Put it on the map!
To add your event to the interactive map at topjobs.ohio.gov/week, please email the details below to In-DemandJobs@jfs.ohio.gov:

Organization:
Event Title:
Date:
Time:
Location:
Point of Contact:
Open to the Public (Yes/No/By Invitation Only):
URL/Link:

This year’s theme is inspired by WorkOhio: Reach Your Full Potential, a new initiative launched by Lt. Governor Tressel to connect Ohioans with in-demand jobs through personalized support from regional job experts.

In-Demand Jobs Week Flyer

OhioMeansJobs Virtual Career Fair: May 13, 2026

Don’t miss your chance to connect with qualified Ohio job seekers – at no cost!

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is hosting the next OhioMeansJobs Virtual Career Fair on Wednesday, May 13, from 1-4 p.m. This online event makes recruiting faster and easier for employers of all sizes and industries.

By hosting a free virtual booth, you can:

Reach candidates from every corner of the state
Promote immediate job openings to an active talent pool
Conduct on‑the‑spot interviews
Recruit for full-time, part-time, summer, and internship positions – all in one convenient session.

Participation is free, but space fills quickly.

To reserve your booth, email EmploymentServices@jfs.ohio.gov by May 6, 2026.

Ohio Public Defender adopts new administrative rules on appointed counsel reimbursability

The Ohio Public Defender (OPD) recently adopted amendments to two sections of the Ohio Administrative Code that will affect indigent defense.

Both changes are intended to expand pathways for appointed counsel attorneys to be eligible for reimbursement.

The first amendment (OAC 120-1-04) allows attorneys who are still gaining experience necessary meet the appointed counsel qualifications to be added as a second chair to a fully qualified attorney, and counties would be able to seek reimbursement for the bills of both attorneys.

The second amendment (OAC 120-1-10) allows time spent as a certified legal intern to county towards the service time requirement to be eligible for reimbursement.

Members with questions about these changes are encouraged to contact OPD Executive Administrator Jacob Summers at jacob.summers@opd.ohio.gov or 614-466-5394.

Education & Grants

WEDNESDAY: CyberOhio hosting webinar on supportive services for local governments

On Wednesday, CyberOhio will host a webinar to share how the Ohio Persistent Cyber Improvement Program (O-PCI) provides free, comprehensive cybersecurity training and support for Ohio’s local government entities, guiding participants through a structured, multi-level approach to building and sustaining a cybersecurity program. Through a five-step model — education, training, exercising, mentoring, and continuous improvement — O-PCI helps organizations strengthen their ability to prevent, respond to, and recover from cyber incidents.

The webinar will share practical insight into how O-PCI supports real-world readiness and helps entities build a scalable, compliant cybersecurity program over time. Perfect for local governments, schools, and public entities looking to better understand Ohio’s cyber ecosystem, leverage free resources, and meet the cybersecurity program and training expectations under HB 96.

Registration is free and can be completed here.

State funding opportunities

The table below contains current state grant or loan programs. A full list can be found on the Ohio Grants Partnership webpage.

Grant Program	Brief Summary	Eligibility Criteria	Amount Available	Application Due Date
County Coastal Erosion Control Loan Program	To provide financing for construction of erosion control structures in coastal erosion areas.	Counties with Lake Erie shoreline containing coastal erosion areas: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain, Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky	Unspecified total, no maximum per request	May 22, 2026
Dam Safety Loan Program	To provide financing for planning, design, and construction of dams and repairs.	Counties, county sewer districts, and soil and water conservation districts, among others	Maximum loan: $7.5 million	May 22, 2026
H2Ohio Conservation Ditch Program	To fund construction of two-stage and self-forming ditches.	Soil and water conservation districts and county engineers	Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement	June 1, 2026
Ohio Sexual Assault Investigations Grant Program	To reimburse for the cost of testing sexual assault kits, including capacity building for agencies that complete sexual assault investigations	Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and crime labs	Unspecified, funding model is reimbursement	June 10, 2026
Extradition Reimbursement Program	To reimburse LEAs for the cost of in-state and out-of-state extraditions.	Law enforcement agencies and prosecutor's offices	Unspecified total, no maximum per request; No match	June 10, 2026
Shine a Light on Dumpers Program	To assist local governments in cleaning existing solid-waste dump sites and to take preventative action to deter future dumping.	Counties and other local governments	Max awards: $100,000 (clean-up projects); $20,000 (deterrence projects)	July 31, 2026

Federal funding opportunities

The table below contains a sampling of current federal grant or loan programs. A full list can be found on Grants.gov.

Grant Program	Brief Summary	Eligibility Criteria	Amount Available	Application Due Date
Youth Gang Prevention and Intervention Program	To support the implementation of intervention and suppression strategies to reduce youth gang crime and to promote public safety.	General Availability	Maximum award: $500,000 No match required	May 21, 2026
Rural Law Enforcement Violent Crime Reduction Initiative	To support rural law enforcement and prosecutors through implementation of a crime reduction strategy that utilizes at least one of three specified approaches.	Counties serving rural areas	Maximum award: $400,000 No match required	May 27, 2026
De-escalation and Crisis Response Training Program	To support the development, implementation, and/or expansion of de-escalation and crisis response training programs that improve law enforcement responses to and outcomes for individuals in crisis who have behavioral health conditions or physical or intellectual disabilities.	General Availability	Maximum award: $700,000 No match required	June 6, 2026
Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program	To assist in the assessment and management of landslide risks through hazard mapping, public education, and community preparedness.	General Availability	Maximum award: $250,000 No match required	June 10, 2026
Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program	To improve railroad safety, efficiency, and reliability, to mitigate congest at both intercity passenger rail and freight rail choke points, and to enhance multi-modal connections.	General Availability	Total available: $2 billion Local match of at least 20% (limited exceptions apply)	June 22, 2026
Defense Community Infrastructure Program	To address deficiencies in community infrastructure supportive of a military installation.	Counties in proximity to a military installation	Maximum award: $20 million Local match of at least 30% (limited exceptions apply)	June 25, 2026
Title X Family Planning Services Grants	To promote the general family planning programs and goals under Title X of the Public Health Service Act.	General Availability	Maximum award: $22 million Local match of between 1% and 10%	January 9, 2027

County News

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Northwest District

Delphos annexation approved by commissioners
LimaOhio.com, April 23, 2026
After a saga of petitions and deliberation, the Allen County commissioners authorized 9.22 acres of property in Marion Township to be annexed by Delphos at their Thursday meeting.

Property owners Diane Wiltsie and Harold Beckner had withdrawn their petitions for annexation from county commissioner consideration on Sept. 18 and Jan. 6 before their latest application on Jan. 14. A public hearing was then held March 24, and the commissioners had 30 days following that date to either authorize or reject the proposal.

Resident concerns throughout the iterations of petitions centered on traffic, road deterioration, noise and other quality of life issues arising from the highly speculated Speedway gas station that could be constructed on the property. However, commissioner Cory Noonan emphasized any hypothetical future development of the property is for the city of Delphos to evaluate.

“Most notably absent from the code is our authority to grant any type of conditional annexation on any type of future, so we’re looking at that property as it is today,” Noonan said. “We did spend quite a bit of time reflecting on the city and the hearing, stating that if there was a potential change of use, they have a whole different process that has to be had.”

What the commissioners did deliberate, though, was a condition of the Ohio Revised Code where the “general good” of the surrounding area had to be supported, which equated to how certain services will be available to the territory compared to before the annexation. The primary focus in this case was on how well the property could be served by law enforcement and water/sewer services.

“At this time, policing services will be one of those. Marion Township does provide police services, and the city of Delphos will be able to provide additional services to those properties,” Noonan said. “And again, when you look at the infrastructure of sewer and water that the city of Delphos will be able to provide for those properties as well. Again, this is not a speculative chapter of the code or directive of the code. It’s,’“What is the property today, and will it be a benefit to move it to the municipality?’”

With the annexation authorized by the commissioners, any further property concerns are now conversations residents will need to have with the city of Delphos.

Northeast District

County provides $50K for drug treatment in jail
Tribune Chronicle, April 23, 2026
Commissioners approved providing $50,000 from the county’s opioid settlement funds to assist sheriff officials to maintain the Medication-Assisted Treatment Program in the Trumbull County jail.

The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office last year received $50,000 to start a medication-assisted treatment program from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

Sheriff’s Major David Bobby told commissioners on Tuesday those funds have been exhausted.

“We’ve always been doing a part of it,” Bobby said. “We received $50,000 just for medication.”

Bobby noted the program has been used to help nearly 50 inmates.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez said the program has been helpful.

The $50,000 approved by the commissioners will be used to support the program while the sheriff’s office is seeking a renewal of the grant.

Central District

County commissioners hear from Job and Family Services
Perry Tribune, April 22, 2026
The Perry County Commissioners heard from Amy Frame, director of Perry County Job and Family Services at their April 15 meeting.. Frame explained that the agency had been contacted by South Central Ohio Job and Family Services (SCOJFS) last Autumn to express interest in having them join the state’s Local Workforce Area 20, which includes Fairfield, Hocking, Pickaway, Ross, and Vinton counties.

They met in November, expressed their fears of being lumped in with some Eastern counties, and asked for additional information. They asked if they could get a guarantee that there wouldn’t be further restructuring if they were added to the new area, but any guarantee they got would be short-lived. This is because it is unknown if the current director of Ohio’s Job and Family Services will remain the director in a new administrative environment.

In February, they were contacted again by SCOJFS. They went to Fairfield County’s Workforce Development Center and met with a few local leaders, and found that many of the programs in area 20 were very enticing. They were also told that Perry County would take on the role of fiscal agent if they were to join. There are still ongoing discussions being held before further decisions are made, but Frame said she supports joining area 20.

After this, the commissioners approved a certificate of appropriations in the amount of $38,157 for the Housing Trust Fund. They also approved a payment to the treasurer of Ohio for $68.25.

They also authorized the president of the commissioners, Scott Owen, to apply for, accept and enter into a water supply revolving loan account agreement on behalf of the commissioners. This allows for the planning, design and construction of waterline facilities and designating a dedicated repayment source for the loan. They also authorized him to sign a rental agreement for a multipurpose building for the Perry County agricultural society.

Southwest District

MC Commissioners OK CHIP agreement
Miami Valley Today, April 20, 2026
During their meeting on Thursday, April 16, the Miami County Commissioners authorized and signed an agreement for the FY 2025 Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) Housing Inspection Services and Lead-Based Paint Risk Assessment/Lead Clearance Services as well as taking action regarding other matters.

The commissioners authorized and signed the agreement for the CHIP Housing Inspection Services and Lead Based Paint Risk Assessment/Lead Clearance Services at the request of the Miami County Department of Development (DOD). The agreement was authorized and signed with Diverse Residential Services, LLC, Washington Courthouse, Ohio, as requested by the DOD, for the PY 2025 Lead Safe Ohio Program.

The commissioners accepted a quote and authorized a project at the request of the Miami County Facilities and Maintenance Department, for the Chiller Tower Windscreen Painting Project at the Miami County Safety Building. The commissioners accepted the quote from Elsner Painting, Sidney, Ohio, and authorized that company to paint the Chiller Tower Windscreen. The work includes preparing the area for painting, protecting all mechanical equipment and adjacent structures from overspray or damage and fully prime all substrates with painting two coats of Sherwin Williams exterior grade paint. The cost is not to exceed $4,500. Multiple quotes were received from Elsner Painting, Sidney, Ohio, $4,500; Brian Brothers, Piqua, Ohio, $13,090; and Meyer Restoration, Piqua, $14,873.

Miami County Commissioner Wade Westfall asked Miami County Facilities and Maintenance Department Director Ben Howlett if the Chiller Tower needs painting, with Howlett responding that it “has been over 20 years” since the last painting and adding that there is also some rust developing.

Howlett told the commissioners that the reason he chose Elsner Painting was “they did the Sheriff’s Training (Building) and did an amazing job.”

Southeast District

Holmes County Airport unveils two-story tower and hangar plans in Millersburg
Your Ohio News, April 15, 2026
The next step in the evolution of the Holmes County Airport took a leap forward Monday, April 13 when the Holmes County Commissioners met with Roc Baker and Josh Troyer of the Holmes County Airport Authority to begin to finalize the blueprint for the new tower.

Weaver Construction will serve as the design-build entity for the tower project and has created a two-story tower that will create a better visitor experience for those flying into the Millersburg airport.

Weaver Construction’s preliminary plans were presented to the commissioners, who are now in the process of looking the plans over prior to committing to approval, but the commissioners said what has been presented to them falls within the realm of what they believe will be acceptable, as long as the plans come in under the $3 million threshold the commissioners have committed to the construction.

Troyer, the vice president of the Holmes County Airport Authority, provided an in-depth look into the tower plans.

In describing the exterior of the tower, which will include material of stone, glass, and aluminum and wood siding, Troyer said. “It’s a nice, traditional, warm feel with lots of windows.”

Baker said the new hangars being built will be to the left of the tower.

The terminal will be a 60-by-60-foot two story structure while the hangar will be 120-by-120 feet.

The first floor of the tower will consist of all the facilities needed to operate the tower including a conference room, office space, restrooms, storage area and pilot’s lounge.

“The pilot’s lounge is accessible after hours, which is really important for pilots to be able to come in after hours,” Troyer said. “We would lock that door to the rest of the facility so they would have access to the break room and restroom.”

The second floor will, for the moment, remain an unfinished shell, something Baker said will help keep the initial cost under the $3 million threshold but allow for future development when needed.

Commissioner Joe Miller expressed concern that initially the commissioners had talked about a single-story structure for the tower to keep the cost down, but Baker said with the second floor being empty, Weaver Construction has assured them they can keep it under the desired cost.

April 27, 2026

Association & Member