Fayette County commissioners approve budget moves, child-placement contracts and prisoner housing agreements

The Board of Fayette County Commissioners on Dec. 29 unanimously approved a package of budget adjustments, authorized several contracts for child-placement services and adopted agreements to house prisoners for neighboring counties.

The board — Tony Anderson, James D. Garland and Donald L. Fleak — approved intra-fund appropriation transfers, two advances (totaling $94,932.52) moving money from the general fund into pension and water-system accounts and multiple additional appropriations, citing routine year‑end budget housekeeping.

Faye Williamson, director of the Fayette County Department of Job and Family Services, asked the board to approve Title IV‑E child-placement and related-services contracts for 2026. The board approved agreements with OhioMHAS–Eastway Corporation and A New Leaf, Inc., each with a maximum payable amount of $75,000 for the year, and a larger contract with NECCO, Inc. with a maximum payable amount of $400,000. All three contracts run Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026, and were adopted by roll call.

Also approved were intergovernmental service agreements: the sheriff was authorized to enter into a 2026 contract with the Village of Octa for law-enforcement services at $30 per hour; memoranda of agreement were adopted to house Jackson County prisoners at $82.50 per prisoner per day and Pike County prisoners at $77.50 per prisoner per day. Both housing agreements specify that medical-escort fees and ambulance charges are the sending county’s responsibility and include a $50 per hour fee for medical escort to and from Adena Fayette Medical Center when required.

The board accepted Amended Official Certificates of Estimated Resources #13, 14 and 15 from the Fayette County Budget Commission and adopted broad appropriation reductions affecting numerous departmental lines as part of routine budget management. Roll-call votes were recorded for each motion, with all three commissioners voting aye on the items reported in the minutes.

In two separate resolutions, the commissioners certified delinquent water and sewer rents and charges for placement on the county tax duplicate. One certification covered past-due accounts as of Sept. 16, 2024 (systems listed included Culpepper, Flakes Ford, Good Hope, Lakewood Hills and Rattlesnake), and a second resolution certified additional past-due charges as of Oct. 10, 2025 (Flakes Ford Estates Sewer, Good Hope Sewer and Rattlesnake Water and Sewer). The clerk was directed to forward certified lists to the Fayette County Auditor under Section 6117.02 of the Ohio Revised Code.

The board adopted a proclamation recognizing Fulton Terry for 45 years of service on the Fayette Metropolitan Housing Authority board. Routine personnel and administrative items were also approved, including authorization for a Fayette County Job & Family Services employee to incur up to $41.25 in travel expenses for a Dec. 30 home visit.

Votes at a glance
- Appropriation modifications: moved by James D. Garland, seconded by Donald L. Fleak — approved (3–0).
- Advances ($59,821.24 to Adena Fayette PERS; $35,111.28 to Rattlesnake Water): moved by Donald L. Fleak, seconded by James D. Garland — approved (3–0).
- Additional appropriations (including $136,540.53 to MVGT — Bridges contract projects): moved by James D. Garland, seconded by Donald L. Fleak — approved (3–0).
- Appropriation reductions (multiple line items across funds): moved by James D. Garland, seconded by Donald L. Fleak — approved (3–0).
- Acceptance of Amended Official Certificates #13, 14 & 15: moved by James D. Garland, seconded by Donald L. Fleak — approved (3–0).
- Contracts for child placement: Eastway Corporation (max $75,000), A New Leaf, Inc. (max $75,000), NECCO, Inc. (max $400,000): motions moved/seconded as recorded — approved (3–0).
- Village of Octa law enforcement contract ($30/hour): moved by James D. Garland, seconded by Donald L. Fleak — approved (3–0).
- Prisoner-housing MOAs: Jackson County ($82.50/day), Pike County ($77.50/day), plus medical-escort provisions ($50/hr): moved/seconded per minutes — approved (3–0).
- Resolutions certifying delinquent water/sewer rents (Sept. 16, 2024 and Oct. 10, 2025 lists): moved and seconded as recorded — approved (3–0).
- Proclamation recognizing Fulton Terry (45 years service): adopted by recorded signatures.

Context and next steps
The items recorded in the minutes represent routine fiscal year‑end adjustments, contract approvals for county service delivery and the formal certification of unpaid utility charges for tax-listing purposes. Where contracts name maximum payable amounts, the board approved the upper limits cited in the contract language on file with the county. The clerk was instructed to transmit certified delinquent-account lists to the county auditor as required by state statute. The board adjourned to its next regular meeting.

Sources and provenance: Actions and amounts summarized above are recorded in the Fayette County Commissioners’ minutes dated Dec. 29, 2025, as entered in the meeting record.