At their first meeting of the year, Delaware commissioners approved funding to provide coffee, meals and refreshments for itself and county agencies during meetings and events.
“This resolution will allow the accounts listed to purchase food for numerous events and emergencies during 2016,” said Si Kille, assistant county administrator/fiscal services director, on Thursday.
A total of $10,225 in county funds will be available to the commissioners; human resources; community relations; Emergency Medical Services; Jobs and Family Services; Child Support Enforcement Agency; the employee wellness program; and the sewer revenue fund.
The resolution states that the expenditures of public funds are in accordance with opinions by the Ohio Attorney General and Auditor of State. The purchases for meetings or events would constitute a public purpose “and are necessary to perform a statutory function or power,” the resolution said.
Instances where the funds may be used were mentioned in the resolution:
“From time to time, it becomes necessary for the board or county agencies to hold meetings during lunch, requiring meals to be provided for the participants; the board and county agencies routinely host community events or seminars that are attended by members of the public, visiting officials from other jurisdictions or organizations, and program participants; the Delaware County Sewer District occasionally requires personnel to report to work during emergencies without the ability to leave the premises for meals.”
County staff say this is the second year the public purpose resolution has come before the board as one resolution, and not several resolutions from each department throughout the year. The individual purchase orders and accompanying payments are still reviewed by the administrator or assistant administrator before approval.
Also at the meeting Thursday, Commissioner Barb Lewis discussed attending a meeting about the Step Up Initiative.
“It is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails,” Lewis said of Step Up. “Jails across the nation serve an estimated 2 million people with serious mental illnesses each year, almost three-quarters of whom also have substance use disorders. Once incarcerated, they tend to stay longer in jail, and upon release, are at a higher risk of returning than individuals without these disorders.”
In other business, commissioners approved:
• Extending the filing date for the Haven’s 503 drainage improvement project by Glenn Road Capital LLC.
• Transferring the ownership of all roll-off recycling containers to the Delaware, Knox, Marion, Morrow Joint Solid Waste District.
• Sanitary sewer improvement plans for The Villas at Loch Lomond and Glenmead Section 1.
