Knox County commissioners approve spongy-moth acknowledgment, advisory-board appointments and safety reports

Knox County commissioners at their Jan. 27 meeting approved routine consent items including an acknowledgment letter related to a state aerial insect-control program for spongy moth, appointed two members to the county's Volunteer Senior Levy Advisory Board and advanced workplace-safety report requirements for posting.

Commissioner (Speaker 4) moved to approve the state acknowledgment letter for the aerial insect-control application; Commissioner (Speaker 3) seconded the motion and the board signaled assent. Commissioner 3 said, "Then that letter will be signed by all 3 of you," indicating the document will be executed and returned to the state.

The board approved two advisory-board appointments introduced during the meeting. Commissioner (Speaker 3) moved to appoint Steve Thompson to the Volunteer Senior Levy Advisory Board; later, the board moved and approved the appointment of Dave Bouchard.

Speaker 3 also presented the State of Ohio Public Employer Risk Reduction Program reports covering work-related injuries and illnesses for 2025 and said each office must sign the set of forms. The HR office indicated PIRC/PERRP reports "should be down here for veil to sign, and then we will upload those to workers' comp website" with forms required to be posted in county offices by Feb. 1 through April 1.

Commissioners also noted several bills and a set of minutes to be approved later in the meeting, expressed appreciation for maintenance staff who cleared snow, and scheduled a Thursday session to consider a resolution about Batoness Road. Speaker 3 clarified the Thursday discussion would be for the three commissioners to discuss and vote because public input had already been received.

The meeting concluded with a recorded motion and second to adjourn.