Commissioners approve annex upgrades, review emergency plans

Carroll County Commissioners approved continued upgrades to the annex building during their May 11 meeting, including new flooring to prepare the space for the Ohio State University Extension office.

Commissioners approved a $22,094 contract with Country Carpets and Flooring of Minerva to install carpet in offices and laminate flooring in hallways. Commissioner Donald Leggett II said two quotes were obtained for the project, with Country Carpets submitting the lower bid compared to a $23,963.58 quote from Georgia Carpet.

Officials said the work is one of the final steps needed before the office can relocate to the annex, which is expected to save the county approximately $15,000 annually in rent.

Leggett said most of the remaining work at the site has already been completed.

“The windows have been replaced, the walls and ceilings are prepped and ready for people to move in,” Leggett said. “This gets the offices pretty well all prepped.”

Commissioners also discussed the county’s recent full-scale emergency response exercise, which brought together multiple agencies for a coordinated training scenario.

Commissioner Robert Wirkner thanked those who participated in the drill, noting it required weekend involvement from emergency personnel across the county.

“The whole idea behind these exercises is to identify issues that can be improved and how we can streamline efficiency,” Wirkner said.

Wirkner said operations at the county’s Emergency Operations Center showed improvement compared to past exercises.

“It’s as good as it ever has been in any of the exercises I’ve been in,” he said.

Commissioners also discussed plans to update the county’s quick action emergency plans, which were last developed in 2017. The plans cover scenarios such as fires, weather events, active threats and evacuations.

Wirkner said the county is working with the Emergency Management Agency to revise the documents and add new sections addressing cybersecurity threats.

“We’re going to take and buy all new,” Wirkner said, noting the updated plans will include improved materials and expanded coverage. These are in each agency office, and the revised ones will be in the courthouse and the annex building.

In other business, commissioners:

—PAID bills totaling $84,149.97.

—RECEIVED the weekly report from Dog Warden Merle Long, which showed two dogs impounded, four adopted and no citations issued.

—RECEIVED a report from the prosecutor’s office for the child support enforcement agency, showing 989 open and active cases.

—APPROVED a right-of-way permit for Carroll Electric Cooperative for work in Lee Township.

—APPROVED the replacement of a failing pressure tank in the courthouse boiler system at a cost of $1,190.