---

CEBCO announces Williams as Managing Director

CEBCO, a member-owned, self-insured risk sharing pool offering a vast array of wellness and health management services to Ohio counties, is pleased to announce Kevin Williams as its new Managing Director, Health and Wellness, effective June 1, 2026.

“Kevin Williams joins CEBCO at an important time for county employee health benefits and wellness initiatives,” said County Commissioners Association of Ohio Executive Director Cheryl Subler. “His leadership, expertise, and passion for service position him well to guide CEBCO into its next chapter. Kevin brings a unique perspective to this role, having served on both the advisory committee that helped set up the program more than 20 years ago and on the CEBCO Board of Directors.”

Prior to joining CEBCO, Williams spent 19 years as a human resources executive with Columbus Public Health and 16 years with the Delaware County Board of Commissioners in various human resources roles. Williams is a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

“Kevin combines strong leadership experience with a collaborative approach and a deep commitment to serving counties and their employees,” Subler added. “Quality, cost-effective health care and employee benefits are essential tools for counties in attracting and retaining a strong workforce, and Kevin understands the importance of that mission.”

CEBCO provides health benefits to 48 counties and over 16,000 county employees.

CEBCO Managing Director of Health and Wellness Kevin Williams

---

Deadline approaching for TY 2026 authorization of piggyback property relief measures 

The deadline for counties to authorize the permissive local ("piggyback") homestead exemption and/or owner occupancy credit is approaching in five weeks. For the relief measure to be effective for the current tax year (taxes payable in 2027), boards of county commissioners must adopt a resolution by June 30. Resolutions adopted after June 30 will be effective for the next tax year (taxes payable in 2028).

The duration of the authorization can be for a single year or multiple years.

As a reminder, the two piggyback options are:

• Local Homestead Exemption - Applied concurrently with the statewide homestead exemption. All homestead exemption recipients in the county would receive a second exemption in the same amount as the standard homestead exemption. No additional application would be needed for recipients.
  
  
• Local Owner Occupancy Credit - Applied concurrently with the statewide credit. The amount of the credit is set by the authorizing resolution, up to 2.5%. The credit is applied to the same qualifying levies that the statewide credit applies to (those approved before November 2013.

All taxing entities in the county are affected by the piggyback options, not just county levies. Additionally, property tax revenue foregone due to the piggyback options is not reimbursed by state, nor is there a mechanism for the county to hold other entities harmless.

More information about the piggyback options can be found in County Advisory Bulletin 2025-10 Property Tax Relief Options.

The third relief mechanism, rolling back or suspending inside millage, is more limited to just the county share and can be authorized at any point in the tax year. The Advisory Bulletin above discusses this option as well.

---

State capital budget introduced, Senate version passes out of chamber

Last week, both chambers of the General Assembly introduced their versions of the capital budget. House Bill 959 and Senate Bill 450 are identical. SB 450 has already advanced through the Senate, passing on Wednesday with a vote of 31-0.

CCAO’s focus in advocacy efforts on the capital budget was a continuation of state funding for county jail projects. Unfortunately, the bills do not include any dedicated funds for jail projects (two small jail-related projects did receive community project funding).

One of the largest new items in this term’s capital budget is $346.5 million for mental health facilities, including a new facility in Montgomery County called the Miami Valley Behavioral Healthcare Hospital. While jail projects did not receive dedicated funding, this hospital may ease some cost pressures on county jails if it enables inmates to receive medical treatment there instead of in the jail.

As is tradition for the capital budget, it includes money for local community projects. This term, community projects totaled $208.3 million. A review identified 59 county projects that received funding. These 59 projects total $13.9 million and are predominantly county fairground projects.

It is unlikely that the capital budget will undergo any changes. The General Assembly is expected to send one of the two bills to Governor DeWine this week.

---

Department of Development seeking applicants for remaining Line Extension Program through June

Last week, the Department of Development announced that there is more than $200,000 remaining in funding for the BroadbandOhio Line Extension program.

The program offsets the costs of line extension for houses that are set back from main roads.

Internet service providers (ISPs) are the only eligible applicants, but counties are encouraged to work with ISPs in their communities to identify projects that may qualify.

Development is accepting applications through the month of June. Due to federal requirements, projects must be completed and operational no later than December 31.

---

Hands-on cyber training exercise by Ohio Cyber Reserve offered to CCAO members

The Adjutant General, Matthew Woodruff, has invited CCAO members to the Distinguished Visitor Day for Ohio Cyber Guardian 2026 on Monday, July 13 at 10am. The event will showcase both the Ohio Cyber Reserve and the Ohio Cyber Range Institute as they conduct a full-scale cyber training exercise at the University of Cincinnati Digital Futures Building.

The Ohio Cyber Reserve is a volunteer force under the command of the Adjutant General. OhCR teams of trained civilians are available to assist eligible municipalities with cybersecurity vulnerabilities and provide recommendations to reduce cyber threats. OhCR volunteers also provide workforce development to train the cyber talent of the future and assist STEM teachers by providing mentors and educates cybersecurity personnel across Ohio’s municipalities. When called, OhCR provides validates teams of incident response professionals to help municipalities identify, protect, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents.

Your participation will provide valuable insight into the evolving landscape of cyber defense and the collaboration between state agencies, private sector partners, and national defense organizations to safeguard our digital infrastructure.

When: July 13, 10am – 12pm (Registration and refreshments start at 9:30am)

Where: 3080 Exploration Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45206

To RSVP for the event, please utilize the link below.

Ohio Cyber Guardian 2026 – Fill out form

---

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
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
Community Connect Grant Program	To provide financial assistance to  provide service at or above the broadband grant speed to all premises in rural, economically- challenged communities where broadband service does not exist.	General availability, but project area must be a rural area without broadband service.	$17 million available. Local match of at least 15%	June 29, 2026
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative – Joint Venture Habitat Restoration and Protection	To assist in the protection, restoration, or enhancement of migratory bird habitats within the Great Lakes coastal zone. Particular focus on projects that address declining habitat types.	General availability among entities along the Great Lakes, with favor for projects within 15 miles of the coastline	$800,000 available Local match of at least 25%	July 6, 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

---

Northwest District

Commissioners back rail safety grant, Lake Erie West to seek federal rail funds
Advertiser-Tribune, June 4, 2026
The Seneca County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously backed a grant application that would fund safety improvements at the WIN Waste landfill while securing community benefits including repairs to two rail crossings and landscaping along Pine Street.

Sandy Spang, executive director of Lake Erie West Regional Council, presented the opportunity to commissioners, asking for their support to allow the organization to apply for a federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements grant through the Federal Railroad Administration. Applications are due the third week of June.

Spang said WIN Waste approached Lake Erie West about the grant after the organization's regional council status made it eligible to apply on the company's behalf. WIN Waste wants to extend a rail spur near Township Road 108 to the north to build a new processing facility, she said, which would improve employee safety, meet updated OSHA requirements, provide better ventilation and add a third bay to the current two-bay operation. The new facility would also allow the company to eliminate its third shift and move to two shifts while processing the same volume of waste.

Before agreeing to serve as applicant, Spang said Lake Erie West pressed WIN Waste to commit to community benefits. Those commitments, made in writing, include repairs to the rail crossing at Township Road 108, repairs to the rail crossing at County Road 18, demolition of the old facility building, fencing along Pine Street near where rail cars are parked and landscaping to shield nearby residents from the visual impact of the operation.

"The sooner the better on 18," Spang said, noting that crossing was not part of the grant scope but was secured as a separate community benefit.

Spang said WIN Waste has committed to spend up to $350,000 on those improvements regardless of whether the grant is awarded. If the grant is awarded, the company would pay the required match and has agreed to make improvements as needed with no upper limit.

The grant application also calls for expanding rail car storage capacity on WIN Waste's property by 60 spaces, double the company's original proposal, a figure Lake Erie West pushed the company to increase. Spang said more cars stored on the property could mean fewer cars backed up on CSX lines through Fostoria.

Spang said WIN Waste verbally assured her the project is not intended to increase the facility's waste intake capacity, which is currently permitted at 9,500 tons per day with an average of about 8,000 tons on peak days. She noted that any capacity changes would require Ohio EPA approval and fall outside the scope of the transportation grant.

---

Central District

Richland County commissioners decide it's cheaper not to take the Trane for new HVAC system
Richland Source, June 2, 2026
The Richland County Board of Commissioners decided on Tuesday it’s cheaper not to take the Trane.

Instead, the panel opted to accept a lower bid from a contractor that will use a Daikin unit as part of an air conditioning system at the Richland County Courthouse.

Standard Plumbing & Heating from Mansfield submitted a bid of $431,688 to replace the existing aging roof-top system.

That was well below the $711,684 estimate provided to the county by Craig Christie with Karpinski Engineering. Stevens Construction of Marion offered to do the job for $705,212.

The biggest difference between the bids was in the HVAC manufacturer used and also the Mansfield company’s ability to use local, less costly sub-contractors, according to county administrator Andrew Keller and maintenance supervisor Josh Hicks.

The bid specifications had included a Trane model, but companies seeking the project were allowed to use comparable systems.

Christie and Hicks went over the bids with the contractors and the engineer recommended the county accept the lower of the two bids as the “lowest and best” offer for a new system officials hope will last 20 years.

“We rely on our engineer to make determinations as to if something is truly a comparable. It needs to be, so we’re satisfied,” Keller said. “That’s pretty common in a bid package like this.

“There are legal restrictions … if a bid comes in over the estimate … there comes a point where a public authority has to reject that bid by law. But there are no minimums as long as it’s responsive,” he said.

---

Southeast District

Holmes County Commissioners give $200,000 for new library bookmobile
YourOhioNews, June 2, 2026
While the Holmes County District Public Library has been gathering funds in anticipation of purchasing a new bookmobile, on Monday, June 1, the Holmes County Commissioners set the wheels in motion for good in presenting Library Director Paula Cicconetti with a check for $200,000.

Commissioner Dave Hall said while presenting the check that everyone knows this is a bookmobile and a service people rely on across the county.

Cicconetti said the library board and staff greatly appreciate the support from the commissioners.

“We are grateful for the investment in our bookmobile program,” Cicconetti said. “It serves all the residents throughout the county, particularly our youngest residents, our children.”

Cicconetti said the library is scheduled to receive the new piece of equipment sometime near the end of July, noting it is valuable to get it in prior to the beginning of the new school year because the library rolls out its school year schedule prior to then, and having two bookmobiles will allow the library to serve more people across the county and get to stops more frequently.

She said they have already received several requests to have a bookmobile stop including the new YMCA facility at NewPointe Church near Millersburg.

“Demand continues to grow,” Cicconetti said, also noting they serve a strong population of senior citizens including Danbury and other nursing facilities.

Because of the large Amish population that uses the bookmobile heavily and the expansive coverage area, the Holmes County District Public Library utilizes two bookmobiles in its everyday operation, doing a number of stops on the vehicles’ daily routines.

Commissioner Joe Miller had high praise for the job Cicconetti is doing in leading the library, calling her the best director he has seen in his 25 years as commissioner.

The funds provided were enough to move forward in the purchase of a new bookmobile, not a small purchase for the library.

“The last time we purchased a bookmobile 10 years ago when we bought a new one, it was about half the cost, around $200,000,” Cicconetti said. “Fortunately, we have been saving money for this over the past number of years, but we weren’t expecting this big of a price tag increase.”