April 5, 2024
The Washington County Commission approved the appropriations and discussed the departmental deficit and DuPont’s per and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) ingredients, Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc. on Thursday morning.
Commissioners held their regular caucus Thursday morning, which was followed by a town hall to discuss the Washington County Department of Employment and Family Services (WCDJFS) shortfall. They also held a separate briefing across teams with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to talk. on the PFAS regulation.
At the commission meeting, Commissioners James Booth and Charlie Schilling approved 4 more votes. Commissioner Kevin Ritter was not present.
One allocation was $95,080. 29 for the Devola Sewer Project. Those credits are for American Rescue Plan Act funds, according to a letter from County Engineer Roger Wright that was included in the meeting’s agenda. Another vote provided for the transfer of $1,500,000 from the general fund to the network’s progression fund. This cash was moved for a potential loan request from the Port Authority of Southeast Ohio to rebuild the AMP-Ohio Gorsuch site.
Booth and Schilling also approved additional $31,250 credits for the COPS grant for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. An advance for the budget taken from the sheriff’s sales tax fund in 2020 and the budget are intended to liquidate the fund. The final allocation of $40,735. 20 for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s pro-progression procedure.
After the meeting, Booth and Schilling met with WCDJFS Director Flite Freimann and Deputy Director Dawn Freeland.
Freimann opened the assembly by saying, “We lack what we want to function. “
Freimann asked the commissioners to demonstrate at the next committee meeting how much the WCDJFS wants to operate.
According to data provided through Freimann to the commissioners, the agency’s projected deficit for the year is $1,075,278. 00 and the existing amount it wishes to operate is $328,435. 37.
Freimann said the maximum deficit is similar to the charge of striking youth in WCDJFS custody. He cited the increase investment charges, the addition of the value of gasoline and an increase in the mileage reimbursement rate for employees as some of the building increase charges.
“We generate a monthly sum of $416,000 in placement fees,” Freimann said.
Freimann also said state investment had been reduced. As he provided, in 2022, the WCDJFS earned $1,078,847 from the state and in 2023, it earned $1,058,857, a 2% cut.
He said the WCDJFS would look at all investment options, but would reach out to commissioners again in the fall to request the rest of what it needed.
Freimann pleaded with the Commissioner that the $328,435. 37 be earned shortly.
“We want (the money) before the end of the month,” he said. I appreciate this opportunity, $328,000 is a big number. “
Booth and Schilling did not say whether they would provide a solution related to the budget Freimann is seeking.
After the WCDJFS meeting, Booth and Schilling had a Microsoft Teams data meeting with the Ohio EPA.
The state of Ohio will seek $110 million in damages from DuPont, Chemours Co. and Corteva Inc. to settle a lawsuit over the release of PFAS into the air and the production of Teflon from the Ohio River at DuPont’s Washington Works plant across the river. .
During the meeting, Joshua Legg, Ohio EPA’s Drinking Water and Groundwater Manager for the Southeast Division, provided an update on the agreement’s cash requests for PFAS projects in Washington County.
He said he won six programs for PFAS projects from Washington County’s water management associations.
He said he had suggested that the associations also work with the Rural Community Assistance Association to get free facilities that they can provide. According to CRPA’s website, it is a national network of nonprofit partners working to provide technical assistance. training, resources, and rural communities.
Schilling asked if there were already established parameters for what PFAS cash can be spent on. Harry Kallipolitis, Ohio EPA’s network director for the Southeast District office, said the Ohio EPA is still gathering information and that there are no parameters yet explained.
Amy Klei, leader of the Ohio EPA’s Division of Drinking Water and Groundwater, provided data on the state of Ohio that received the settlement funds. He said additional legal action must be taken in connection with the lawsuit before the Ohio EPA receives the PFAS cash. agreement.
Tanushree Courlas, deputy leader of the Ohio EPA’s Division of Drinking and Groundwater Water, gave some main points about one of the county water association’s PFAS agreement funding requests, what the Ohio EPA calls an appointment. He said the appointment of Putnam Community Water Corporation for well mitigation. It indicated in the application form that the indicated date for obtaining a loan for the assignment is January 2025 and the start date of the structure is June 2025.
“We’re right in the middle of reviewing all of those programs and grading them,” Courlas said of the programs won in Washington County.
Schilling asked Klei if there is a timeline for the proposed PFAS regulations, and she replied that anything will likely be part of their next conversation.
Other issues discussed at the committee meeting:
*Motions Passed to Acknowledge Receipt of 2023 Probate Court/Juvenile Court and Municipal Court Annual Reports
*Approved out of a total of $252,875. 46 in bills.
*A solution was approved that considers April as National County Government Month.
*Five approved and today, which are procurement orders over $100.
*Approved the payment of a bill of $228,119. 60 to Veregy for a transfer of energy and services at the courthouse, County Home and Children’s Services.
*Approved the payment of an invoice for $633,746. 16 to RDR Utility Services Group, which is the tanks for the Devola Sewer project.
*Presentation of Sanitary Engineer Pumping Station Agreement
You can reach Michelle Dillon at mdillon@newsandsentinel. com
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The Mid-Ohio Valley Ballet Company will perform the classic fairytale ballet “Cinderella” on Friday at 7 p. m.
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