Commissioners approve child support enforcement contract, road maintenance agreement

Judge Matthew Puskarich appeared before the Harrison County commissioners to seek approval of the annual IV-D contract 13-25, effective from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2026. He explained only one contract was ready for approval due to a mix-up in Columbus.

The contract, between the Child Support Enforcement Agency and the Harrison County Juvenile Court, is intended to “purchase services for the effective administration of the support enforcement program.”

“We submitted everything to child support back on Sept. 9, and somehow the clerking contract made it to Columbus and got approved — the magistrate’s contract did not,” Puskarich said. “It’s now been re-submitted through child support, but they said now we’re in line with a bunch of the others, so we probably will not get that back here until December.”

Puskarich said that as long as the contract is signed “within the quarter,” the county will receive the money owed for October and November. He noted that in more than 20 years of experience, this type of delay has happened only twice and the contract was always honored if completed within the quarter.

“So, I don’t see that as an issue,” he said. “But you guys are repaying a whole lot more for October and November until that one comes through, and then you’ll get a large reimbursement in December and January.”

Puskarich reminded the board the contract is for child support and described it as a “federal pass-through,” explaining the federal government reimburses 66 cents for every dollar spent, leaving the court responsible for 34 cents.

Also approved was Agreement 48-25, a Road and Bridge Use Maintenance agreement between the county highway department and Ohio Gas Gathering LLC for a well pad site titled Sadler. The site is located in Shortcreek Township, approximately 0.42 miles from the intersection of Georgetown Road, with access off Jamison Road.