Commissioners finalize OSU Extension property deal

The Harrison County commissioners last week approved four appropriation requests from Common Pleas Court Judge T. Shawn Hervey and finalized a property sale to Ohio State University Extension.

Hervey's first request was for a portion of the court's fiscal year 2026–27 Corrections Grant funding, which began July 1, 2025. The memo from Hervey noted another appropriation request would come in December.

“It is necessary that funding be requested in this manner as county funding is appropriated by calendar year and the Corrections Grant is appropriated on a fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027,” Commissioner Dustin Corder read from the memo.

The $71,842 appropriation covers salary ($42,865), PERS ($10,085), insurance for health, life and vision ($15,386), Medicare ($2,208), supplies ($183) and workers’ compensation ($1,115).

The second request involved the Community Corrections Pre-Sentencing Investigation Program Grant, approved for the same fiscal period in the amount of $7,352. The appropriation approved last week totaled $1,925.75 for salary ($1,899.50) and Medicare ($30.25).

The third appropriation involved the Probation Services Grant, which provides $50,000 over two years. The first quarterly payment of $6,250 has already been received. Commissioners approved $6,250 for salary ($5,400), PERS ($771.70) and Medicare ($78.30).

The fourth appropriation, $23,850 from the Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison (T-CAP) Grant, was approved for salary ($15,264), PERS ($4,274), Medicare ($445), general expenses ($1,000), program expenses/EOCC ($2,255) and workers’ compensation ($612).

OSU Extension purchase finalized

Commissioners also approved contract 10-25, clearing the way for OSU Extension to purchase 7.852 acres at 1 College Way, Cadiz — the former Belmont College building, vacant since last year.

The $475,000 sale lists the Cadiz Community Improvement Corporation as the seller. The property must pass through the county commissioners before transfer.

OSU Extension plans to establish a learning center in the building, though no opening date has been set.

“This is for the OSU Extension office, and this has been in the works for quite some time, long before any of the three of us were in office,” Corder said.