Leadership survey seeks responses from county officials
Shift•ology is conducting a survey for an upcoming leadership communication program on the experience of leaders in public and non-government service. The survey will take less than 10 minutes and is completely anonymous.
Click here to complete the survey.
Nearly $12 million in demolition grants provided across the state
Last week, the DeWine-Tressel Administration announced the awarding of $11.9 million in demolition and site revitalization grants to 73 counties.
The grants will be used to assist communities in demolishing dilapidated residential and commercial structures and preparing the sites for future economic development. Across the grant program's funding rounds, approximately 6,700 demolish ion projects have been supported.
A full list of the projects funded under the most recent round can be found here.
WEDNESDAY: OCERP Retirement Advisors holding webinar on retirement readiness
Join your Ohio County Employees Retirement Plan (OCERP) Retirement Plan Advisor for their July and August 2026 Financial Wellness Webinars:
- July: Retirement Readiness
- This webinar covers all the factors to consider when deciding whether you are ready to retire. Did you know that you can contribute your sick and vacation pay into your OCERP account up to the 2026 IRS limit? Did you know that if you are over age 50 and within three years of retiring, you are eligible for Special Catch-up, which has a higher IRS contribution limit? Did you know that OPERS offers a one-time payout of your pension that you can roll into your OCERP account? Attend this webinar to learn more about getting ready to retire.
- August: Budgeting
- Do you have a monthly budget? Your Retirement Plan Advisor will review the basics of budgeting and how having a budget in place helps you stay on track to meet your retirement savings goal.
Registration is required, but is free. Please select the registration link in the table below based on which OCERP region your work location is located within. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the meeting access information.
Top Top CCAO, NACo submit comments on Federal Uniform Guidance
This week, CCAO submitted comments on the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed revisions to 2 CFR Part 200, Guidance for Federal Assistance, also known as Uniform Guidance.
The rule provides guidance and regulation for all federal grants, cooperative agreements, and pass-through awards, affecting state and local governments, nonprofits, universities, and other recipients.
This proposed revision is over 400 pages in total and represents the largest revision of the rule since its inception in 2013. OMB’s state goals of this revision are improving transparency, accountability and oversight of federal funds. Some of the major revisions of the proposed changes include:
- Moving from guidance to binding regulation
- Allowing for mid-grant termination for reasons beyond non-compliance, including not aligning with the policy goals of the administration
- Centralizing decision-making with political appointees instead of peer reviews or non-political agency experts
- Requiring enhanced disclosures, including e-verify, and disallow of the use of DEI terminology
The deadline for public comment was Monday, July 13, 2026 and the rule is scheduled to take effect on Thursday, October 1, 2026. CCAO submitted a letter requesting the following three revisions:
- Provide for an extended comment period, of at least an additional 45 days, due to the complexity of the rule
- Move the effective date of the proposed rule to no earlier than October 1, 2027
- Initiate a robust Federalism process, in which state and local governments are given a formal process/forum to discuss the proposed rule
NACo also submitted comments on the proposed changes, as did several Ohio counties. For more information on the proposed revisions, visit NACo’s resource hub.
CCAO will continue to monitor this issue and will provide updates as more information becomes available.
Attorney General Opinion on joint solid waste district and policy committee virtual meeting authority issued
Attorney General Andy Wilson issued Attorney General Opinion 2026-006, in response to a request from the Trumbull County Prosecutor.
The Opinion concerns virtual meeting authority for joint solid waste districts boards and policy committees, answering the following questions:
- Can the board of directors of a joint solid waste district conduct its meetings virtually in accordance with R.C. 121.221?
- Can the solid waste management policy committee conduct its meetings virtually in accordance with R.C. 121.221?
The opinion holds that R.C. 121.221 permits the board of directors and the solid waste management policy committee of a joint solid waste district to conduct their meetings or hearings virtually, except when the meetings or hearings involve a vote to approve a major nonroutine expenditure, a significant hiring decision, or a purpose to propose, approve, or vote on a tax issue or increase. These restrictions are consistent with the restrictions placed on other joint bodies under the law.
Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board accepting applications for its annual Citizen Archivest Award
The Ohio Historical Records Advisory Board Citizen Archivist Award honors volunteers in Ohio’s archives who work long hours answering reference requests, processing collections, and indexing historic records. This award recognizes a volunteer in an Ohio archive who best exemplifies the dedication and hard work volunteers—our citizen archivists—contribute to Ohio’s archives each day.
All Ohio institutions responsible for archival records that provide free public access to at least a portion of their collections are eligible. Preference will be given to volunteers whose work increases access to archival collections in Ohio. OHRAB will accept nominations from Ohio archival institutions as well as the general public.
Departments employing members of OHRAB are not eligible, but other departments in their institutions are eligible.
Nominating letters should be no longer than two pages, 12-pt, single-spaced, describing the accomplishments and dedication of the volunteer. Include the nominee’s name along with a contact person’s name, mailing and email addresses, and phone number. If the nominee’s contributions include online collections, please include a link to the website.
Nominations must be received by September 15, 2026.
Send nominations via email or U.S. mail to:
Chris Shaw (cshaw@co.delaware.oh.us)
Delaware County Records Center
2079 US Rte. 23 North
PO Box 8006
Delaware, OH 43015
740-833-2140 Top SERB Conference to be held on September 1
Registration is now open for the 2026 State Personnel Board of Review (SPBR) Conference, scheduled for September 1, 2026, in Columbus.
The full-day program is designed for managers, HR professionals, attorneys, union representatives, elected officials, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of Ohio's public employment laws, rules, and shifting legal landscape.
Attendees will gain practical tools, legal insights, and actionable guidance to support confident, informed decision-making in public sector roles.
This year’s conference offers a dynamic and diverse agenda. Topics include the SPBR process, citizen- and work-centered AI, navigating partisan political activity, distinguishing classified and unclassified service, resolving workplace conflict, and a fast-paced briefing on Ohio's most talked-about public-sector challenges.
CCAO Executive Director Cheryl Subler is one of the panelists on the fast-paced briefing session.
Registration costs $200 and can be completed here. If accommodations are needed, the conference has reserved a block of rooms at the conference venue (the Marriott Northwest Hotel in Dublin), which can be reserved for $131 per night.
The conference has also been approved for 5.5 hours of general Continuing Legal Education credits.
Workforce Association annual conference to be held in mid-September
The Ohio Workforce Association and the Ohio Chapter of the International Association of Workforce Professionals are hosting their annual conference on September 17 and 18 in Lewis Center.
The conference, titled The Engagement Blueprint: Connecting Industry to Opportunity, will feature sessions on using AI to strengthen workforce delivery, how to use predictive analytics in job matching, and more.
The full agenda is available here.
Registration is open and costs $395 until August 31, at which point the fee will increase to $425.
You can register for the event here.
Save the Date: Preparing Rural Ohio for Data Centers event on September 17
Sunday Creek Horizons is hosting a Preparing Rural Ohio for Data Centers event on September 17, 2026 at the Cherry Valley Hotel & Conference Center. The event is invite only and no cost to attend. All county commissioners, executives, and council members are invited to attend and attendance will be guaranteed for those who register.
As Ohio continues to attract unprecedented investment in data center infrastructure, rural communities are increasingly being asked to evaluate proposals that will shape their future. The event is Ohio's first educational summit created exclusively for local government leaders navigating data center development.
Sign up for the event here.
You will be prompted to provide your email for a direct invitation once registration opens. All CCAO members are invited to attend.
Attendees will hear from a diverse group of experts and practitioners, including:
- Leading Ohio legislators
- Senior federal energy officials
- Attorneys specializing in land use, zoning, incentives, and development agreements
- Economic development leaders
- Community leaders discussing lessons learned, best practices, and practical strategies
Secretary of State issues directive on PEO training, opens grant period
Secretary of State Frank LaRose issued a directive last week to provide boards of elections with guidance and requirements regarding the recruitment and training of nearly 40,000 precinct election officials (PEOs) for the November Election.
To support the recruitment and training, the office will provide a total of $1 million to boards of elections, allocated by the number of registered voters in each county, with a minimum grant of $1,000, ensuring that PEOs are properly trained and prepared for the upcoming election.
Boards are required to recruit and train at least 15% the statutory minimum number of PEOs (with a 30% percent target strongly encouraged) and ensure all PEOs receive comprehensive and updated training.
Grant funding can be used for recruitment advertising, facility rentals for training activities, hiring external trainers, and printing or reproduction of materials.
Any funding from the Secretary of State is expressly prohibited from being used for payroll or wages of the board, along with other prohibited purposes.
The full grant agreement and guidelines are available here.
OEEF program accepting environmental grant applications through August 14
The Ohio EPA (OEPA) is accepting grant applications for the Ohio Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) program.
Approximately $700,000 is available to three target audiences: the general public, the regulated community, and the education field (pre-school through university). Counties will predominantly fall in the "regulated community" audience.
Funding is available at two different levels: $500 to $5,000 and $5,000 to $25,000. OEEF grants are typically for seed money to begin new projects or to advance existing projects that are undergoing significant expansion.
The OEPA will prioritize applications that, among other purposes, aim to reduce exposure to PFAS, aim to reduce lead exposure in drinking water, and encourage habitat and ecological restoration efforts. A full list of priorities can be found at the bottom of the webpage linked to above.
Recent OEEF grants awarded to county-level entities include:
- Ashtabula County Health Department: $50,000 for a public awareness campaign about sewage contamination in private water systems.
- Belmont County Soil and Water Conservation District: $13,749 to provide education about the Captina Creek watershed.
- Shelby County Soil and Water Conservation District: $19,250 to purchase an augmented reality sandbox to educate students and the public on watersheds and water quality.
Applications must be submitted by August 14. Instructions on how to apply can be found here.
State funding opportunities
The table below contains current state grant or loan programs. A more comprehensive list can be found on the Ohio Grants Partnership webpage.
Grant Program
|
Brief Summary
|
Eligibility Criteria
|
Amount Available
|
Application Due Date
|
| 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 |
| Court Improvement Program: Court Navigator Grant |
To support the implementation of a Court Navigator Pilot Program within abuse, neglect, and dependency (A/N/D) cases. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile Courts |
One grant of up to $80,000.
No match required.
|
August 5, 2026 |
| Court Improvement Program: Technology Grant |
To help juvenile and probate courts improve their ability to maintain operations during emergencies, enhance virtual hearing capabilities, and enhance digital communications with families and system partners. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile and Probate Courts |
Maximum grant: $25,000
No match required.
|
August 5, 2026 |
| Court Improvement Program: Mediation Grant |
To support the creation of mediation programs within A/N/D cases, to assist older youth transitioning out of foster care, to address school absenteeism, and to prevent child welfare or juvenile justice involvement. |
Courts of Common Pleas Juvenile Courts |
Maximum grant: $80,000
No match required.
|
August 5, 2026 |
| Ohio Environmental Education Fund |
To support environmental education and restoration efforts based on priorities identified by the OEEF Advisory Council. |
Entities regulated by the OEPA |
Between $500 and $25,000
|
August 14, 2026 |
| Precinct Election Official Recruitment and Training Grant |
To provide assistance in the recruitment and training of precinct election officials for the 2026 November general election. |
County boards of elections |
Set allocation per county, contact the Secretary of State for further information
|
Unspecified, but terms must be completed by November 2, 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
|
| COPS Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Program |
To provide LEAs that do not have established law enforcement-specifc mental health and wellness programing with start-up funds to establish those supports. |
General availability for entities with law enforcement functions |
$9 million available
No match requirement
|
July 30, 2026 |
| Continuum of Care and Youth Homelessness Program |
To provide funding to enable the quick rehousing of homeless individuals, families, and other vulnerable populations. |
General availability |
$4 billion available
Local match of at least 25%
|
August 26, 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 |
Top Each week Counties Current highlights the happenings in our counties in the words of their local media.
One story from each of the CCAO's five districts is highlighted, and on occasion other stories may be highlighted as well.
A paid subscription may be required to view the full article in some cases.
Northwest District
Defiance commissioners informed of another monthly landfill record
Crescent News, July 13, 2026
Another all-time monthly intake record at Defiance County’s landfill has fallen — for a third straight month.
This information was shared by the landfill’s manager (Defiance County Engineer Warren Schlatter) during commissioners’ regular meeting Monday. According to Schlatter, the landfill took in 92,551 cubic yards of waste during June, easily breaking the previous all-time record (84,529 cubic yards), set in May. April’s amount (79,290 cubic yards) also had set an all-time monthly high.
The landfill’s life expectancy — constantly changing due to many variations — is about 40 years based on landfill intake at last year’s pace, according to Schlatter. That projection is based on the landfill’s present footprint and does not take into account any future land purchases.
Commissioner Mick Pocratsky asked what the county should do about the future space issue now.
“To me that’s not a question that we have to answer today, we still have 40 years of life left at last year’s (waste intake) rates,” said Schlatter. “We have a big hill to fill yet but, yeah, we need to keep our radar up for the ground around us. ... And I think we have some openings there ... .”
Also Monday, Schlatter informed commissioners that the new short road to the First Quality plant construction site west of Defiance has been completed. He said county crews seeded the areas around the road.
The company has requested naming the road First Quality Drive.
Northeast District
Medina County commissioners oppose Brunswick waste waiver in solid waste plan update
Your Ohio News, July 13, 2026
The Medina County Board of Commissioners signaled a major shift in its long-running update of the county's Solid Waste Management Plan on July 7, backing changes that would eliminate a proposed waiver sought by the city of Brunswick after officials said the request could increase costs for residents and create long-term contractual challenges.
The discussion was most of the commissioners' meeting and centered on the county's effort to complete its state-required solid waste plan update, a process that has been underway for more than a year.
Solid Waste Director Barb Ingraham explained that the county's Technical Advisory Committee had previously considered allowing Brunswick to divert up to 15,000 tons of waste annually to another facility under a conditional waiver. Although the committee narrowly supported that proposal, Brunswick later informed the county it would seek a guaranteed waiver and indicated it would veto the plan if one was not included.
Commissioners said additional conditions submitted by Brunswick, including an earlier implementation date and exclusive authority to cancel the waiver, made the proposal unacceptable.
Commissioner Steve Hambley said the county should return to the waiver language contained in its 2021 solid waste plan rather than create a guaranteed exemption for one community.
"We're going to draw the line," Hambley said, arguing that the additional conditions and financial consequences would be detrimental to the county's solid waste district.
County officials also said preliminary discussions with waste contractor Rumpke indicated granting Brunswick's request could require renegotiating the county's disposal agreement. According to Hambley, those negotiations could increase transfer, transport and disposal fees by about $3.15 per ton, extend the contract from 2033 to 2040 and eliminate an existing material recovery guarantee.
Commissioner Aaron Harrison said that while the advisory committee's recommendation reflected careful negotiations among multiple stakeholders, Brunswick's subsequent demands changed the equation.
"If Brunswick is going to be unhappy in either instance, then perhaps we don't need to frustrate some of our other partners in the process," Harrison said.
Central District
Knox County Transit wins mobility initiative award
Knox Pages, July 9, 2026
An innovative approach to workforce transportation led to regional recognition for Knox County Transit.
At the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission’s inaugural Mobility Exchange last month, KCT received the Mobility Initiative Award for its Night Bus program.
The award recognizes projects that enhance mobility, implement innovative transportation solutions, and create meaningful improvements toward a more connected transportation system across Central Ohio.
Transit Director Bethany Celmar loves that the award is for mobility initiative.
“We were one of the first ones to get to the scene of nighttime transportation for the workforce, and we made it happen. There have been several other transits that have followed in our footsteps,” she said.
“It’s a huge honor, and we’re really, really grateful and thankful for it. It’s nice to see some of the hard work pay off and be right, especially from people in the transportation arena.”
Celmar credits the program’s success to a team effort among the drivers, schedulers, and other staff members.
The transit agency launched the program in February 2024 with a one-time $200,000 Ohio Department of Transportation grant.
Night Bus ridership has been steady since its inception, and KCT added a second bus. However, funding is difficult, and KCT had to cut the second bus.
Celmar said the current night bus driver is moving out of state to pursue her master’s degree. KCT has full-time driver positions open as well as the night bus position.
Celmar said that although regular trips drop off in the summer, group trips increase.
In May, the total trip count was 5,829. June’s trips topped 6,600.
“Our flex routes remain pretty consistent and pretty strong, having over 1,200 trips every month on those,” Celmar said. “They’ve started to take some of that demand off of the demand response.”
However, she acknowledged that for some riders in wheelchairs, the on-demand response worked better than the flex route.
Southwest District
Scioto JFS director addresses rising Children Services costs amid county budget concerns
Portsmouth Daily Times, July 14, 2026
As Scioto County commissioners continue preparing the county's 2027 budget, one of the largest financial challenges remains the increasing cost of caring for children in the custody of Scioto County Children Services.
During the July 9 meeting of the Scioto County Commissioners, Commissioner Scottie Powell said the county expects to allocate between $22-$24 million in general fund revenue, while county offices have submitted budget requests totaling approximately $30 million. Powell also noted that approximately $2.5 million in outstanding placement costs for Children Services remains unpaid, placing additional pressure on the county's budget.
Scioto County Job and Family Services Director Tamela Moore Morton said those unpaid costs are not debts owed to the county itself.
"Scioto CPS does not owe money to the county," Moore Morton said. "The back payments that are owed are to the providers for the placement costs of the children in custody."
Moore Morton said Scioto County Children Services requests county funding only to cover placement costs that are not already paid through state funding or the county's Children Services levy.
"Scioto CPS only requests money to cover placement costs that are not covered by the state funding and levy funding," she said.
Although commissioners have warned that difficult funding decisions may be necessary because of increasing budget demands, Moore Morton said the agency will continue providing services required under Ohio law regardless of county appropriations.
"Scioto CPS will continue to provide the services as mandated by the state," she said.
Commissioner Merrit Smith said during last week's meeting that while the number of children in foster care has declined in recent years, the overall cost to care for those children has continued to increase.
Southeast District
Ohio approves $1M for care of 16 rescued kids
Columbus Dispatch, July 13, 2026
State officials approved $1 million in emergency funds for Vinton County to help care for the 16 children rescued from squalid conditions.
The Ohio Controlling Board approved the funding Monday.
The 16 children, ranging in age from 18-month-old twins to an 18-year-old female, are in foster care and are expected to require extensive treatment for physical and mental health issues, according to state officials. The money is for the short-term needs.
"The kids are safe. They're being cared for. They're receiving treatments," said Joel Potts of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. "We expect there will be a lot more services these children will need to address the traumas they've received. And some of these things they'll probably be dealing with for life."
Therapeutic foster care costs $150 to $250 per day per child, he said. "Those costs alone would bankrupt the county."
The Ohio Department of Children and Youth launched a review of child welfare agency records for reports regarding the family involved the case. Authorities searching a house in Hamden on a different investigation found the 16 children in deplorable conditions. The children all required immediate medical care and two were flown by medical helicopter to pediatric hospitals in Ohio. Top JULY 24
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting
AUGUST 7
CCAO Board of Directors Meeting (virtual)
AUGUST 14
CORSA Board of Directors Meeting
AUGUST 21
CEBCO Board of Directors Meeting Top
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