An elevator and dog fees among commissioners’ week
The Holmes County Dog Warden and Adoption Center will raise its dog license and kennel fees by a small amount in the coming year.
There was plenty of activity at the commissioners’ weekly meeting at the Old Jail in Millersburg on Monday, July 21.
The meeting saw one bid come in for the bid opening of the Holmes County Job & Family Services elevator modernization project.
The base bid from Schindler’s was in the amount of $373,959 with a bond insured at 10% of the bid amount. The county’s estimate was set at $475,000.
The board also rescinded a previous resolution for an additional levy on the November 2025 ballot for the purpose of providing or maintaining senior citizen services or facilities for the Holmes County Council on Aging Inc. — otherwise known as the Darb Snyder Holmes County Senior Center — and replaced it with Resolution 07-21-25-2, which maintained the same verbiage, only with a corrected amount of the levy on it.
The levy being placed on the November ballot is in the amount of $0.310 mills for each dollar of taxable value, which would produce an estimated $500,000 of revenue. The approximate amount per $100,000 would be around $11.
Both resolutions were approved.
Resolution 07-21-25-3 was passed, accepting the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor.
“They’ve gone up, but proportionally they’ve stayed the same,” Commissioner Chair Joe Miller said.
This is an annual protocol for the commissioners.
Resolution 07-21-25-4 saw the commissioners accept a resolution authorizing a satisfaction and release of mortgage for Matthew D. Mullet.
Commissioner Dave Hall said this is to satisfy the regulations for a CHIP program housing agreement for said individual that has been satisfied with the county.
The commissioners also passed a resolution acknowledging the filing of a petition for vacating portions of public roadway in Clark Township in Holmes County.
The official viewing date was set to take place Aug. 25 at 8:30 a.m. in Farmerstown. The hearing on the road will take place at the Old Jail meeting room in Millersburg that same day at 9:30 a.m.
The portion of road in question is a 16.5-foot alley.
“Farmerstown has a lot of little alleys laid out that were never opened, and this may be part of that,” Miller said.
A resolution was accepted authorizing an increase in the dog license and kennel license fees for Holmes County.
Having received a request from Holmes County Dog Warden Jonathan Beam, the county is increasing the annual dog license fees from $17-$19, from $51-$57 for a three-year tag and from $170-$190 for a lifetime tag.
The kennel licensing fee will rise from $85-$95, effective Dec. 1.
The commissioners also authorized the Holmes County Fairgrounds emergency operations plan update.
The update also received prior approval from Holmes County Agricultural Society President Roger Boring, Holmes County Emergency Management Agency Director Jason Troyer, Holmes County Sheriff Tim Zimmerly, Millersburg Police Chief Matthew Shaner and Holmes District #1 Fire Chief Brian Rafferty.
Troyer said the original plan was put in place in 2022, and after three years, all involved team members who signed the update met and agreed to some minor changes in the proposed plan.
The emergency operations plan is in place to clearly define responsibilities of all departments and teams working to ensure safety of all visitors during the Holmes County Fair, as well as other activities taking place on the fairgrounds at Harvest Ridge.
The Holmes County Fairgrounds EOP will be distributed to American Red Cross, Pomerene Hospital, Holmes County Agricultural Society, Holmes County Commissioners, Holmes County Engineer, Holmes County Health Department, Holmes County Sheriff’s Office, Holmes Fire District #1 and Millersburg Police Department.
The plan will be available to the general public upon request and is available at the senior fair board office at Harvest Ridge and the main office at Harvest Ridge.
Troyer said there were minimal changes to the plan including two new chiefs on the committee, with no changes taking place to the plan itself.
The need for this type of plan became evident two years ago when a tornado was sited heading toward the fairgrounds during the fair. While the tornado didn’t touch down at the fairgrounds, the individuals and teams working to ensure safety were quick to leap into action to prevent loss of life by following the safety plan.
The safety plan discusses all inclement weather dangers, fires, civil disturbances, violent intruder and/or active shooter circumstances, missing or abducted children scenarios, utility malfunctions, evacuation procedures, and other hazards.