Daniel Cuciac, left, and Keith McCloud are the newest board members for Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties. They bring decades of experience in the field of mental health and recovery services. Also pictured are, back row, Commissioners Thom Collier, left, and Teresa Bemiller.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County Board of Commissioners
Daniel Cuciac, left, and Keith McCloud are the newest board members for Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties. They bring decades of experience in the field of mental health and recovery services. Also pictured are, back row, Commissioners Thom Collier, left, and Teresa Bemiller.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County Board of Commissioners
MOUNT VERNON — On Thursday, the commissioners approved a contract to provide IT services to the City of Mount Vernon.
The three-year contract runs from Feb. 1, 2023, through Jan. 31, 2026. The city will pay $150,000, $160,000, and $170,000 for years 2023-25, respectively.
The commissioners also recently took the following actions:
•Supported the application of Philander Chase Conservancy for an agricultural easement of nearly 108 acres on behalf of J. Nathan McKee. The Harrison township parcels are on Millersburg Road and Chadwick road.
•Authorized a request for professional services for bridge replacement projects on Beckley and Coffing roads
•Approved an engineering services agreement with K.E. McCartney & Associates 4334,887.60 for the Danville-Amity Road improvement project
•Approved equipment/professional services agreement with Compiled Technologies for records management in the county recorder's office
•Issued a Request for Qualifications for a consultant to apply for and administer grant funding
•Approved a contract with former Board of Elections director Kim Horn for training new employees, effective Feb. 6 through May 31, in the amount of $3,000 per month
•Approved renewing the contract with Quick Mow, Inc. for 2023 roadside mowing in the amount of $134,944.08
•Approved an advertisement to bid for the Pleasant View Acres wastewater treatment plant improvements. The engineer's estimate for the project is $2 million.
•Approved January's meal cost report for the Knox County Jail: meals prepared 6,906, total cost $11,995.94, per meal cost $1.56
•Approved agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for the Howard-Danville Road bridge replacement, estimated cost of $1.226 million
911 Operations
911 Operations Director Laura Webster reported she obtained a quote of $2,055.72 plus an annual maintenance fee to add the Knox County Animal Shelter to the 911 Zuercher CAD system. She will attend a meeting with EMA Director J.T. DeChant and the city's engineering department to update their source water protection plan with the EPA. The department is down one full-time and three part-time dispatchers.
Job & Family Services
JFS Director Scott Boone said staff members will undergo Run, Hide, Fight training through Knox County EMA. The department currently has 86 children in custody with 30 adoptions pending. Plans are to sell or trade in a vehicle that has between 120,000 and 130,000 miles on it and needs $8,000 in repairs; the department will buy a Chevy Traverse with scheduled delivery in April.
Regarding staffing, Boone said there were five recent resignations. Staff members are preparing for a lot of calls next month because the state emergency allotment for SNAP benefits ends this month and reverts to pre-COVID levels.
