Commissioners approve routine items, appointments and utility permits

Richland County commissioners cleared three Spectrum Mid America utility permits, Emergency Management Agency travel to a Cleveland hazardous-materials conference and the purchase of two 2026 Dodge Durangos at their Sept. 10 meeting.

The board also appointed Greg Kale to the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission and supported an effort to protect 209 acres of wetlands in Weller Township. Commissioners approved the Sept. 8 meeting minutes, weekly transfers and requisitions, and additional appropriation requests as part of the same slate of county business.

Permits and preparedness

The three utility permits clear Spectrum Mid America to carry out the work covered by the approvals. The company is responsible for following through on the projects.

Commissioners separately approved a Richland County Emergency Management Agency travel request for the Ohio Hazmat Conference in Cleveland. The agency coordinates with local partners and maintains plans for preparing for, responding to and recovering from natural and human-caused emergencies.

Rebecca Owens is the county’s EMA director, and Sarah Potes is the agency’s administrative assistant.

Community action and wetlands

Kale’s appointment places him on the Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission, which serves Crawford, Marion, Morrow and Richland counties and works to help low-income residents improve their economic situations.

Richland County has three representatives on the commission’s 24-member Board of Trustees.

Commissioners also supported West Creek Conservancy’s application for an Ohio green-space grant. The conservancy is seeking to protect permanently 209 acres of wetlands in Weller Township.

Two county vehicles

The board authorized the Mission County Adult Board to purchase two 2026 Dodge Durangos with money from the requesting body’s sanction fund.

The action also refers to the requester as Mission County Adult Port Services. The purchase authorization, however, places the two vehicles with the Mission County Adult Board.

With the votes complete, responsibility shifts to Spectrum for the permitted utility work, the county EMA for the conference travel, West Creek Conservancy for the grant effort, Kale for Richland County’s community-action representation and the Mission County Adult Board for the Durango purchases.