Scioto County Commissioners have decided to take their meetings on the road and hold them at times that are more convenient for folks who work during the day. At Monday’s organizational meeting, the commissioners decided they would continue meeting once a week on Thursdays at 9:30 am.
The commission cut meetings down from twice a week to once a week due to COVID, and Commissioner Davis said they hadn’t noticed any real difference in the amount of work they were able to accomplish, so they voted to keep it at one regular meeting a week.
Evening Meetings Planned Around County
Commissioner Scottie Powell suggested the commission consider having evening meetings at various locations in order to accommodate citizens who work during the day.
Commissioner Davis agreed but said budgetary meetings might be better off held during the day due to the way that the auditor’s office works.
“I think if we just stick to issues and don’t go into appropriations, then we’re okay.”
Davis said he liked the idea of having special meetings once per quarter at various locations. “I like the idea of going to all four corners of the county. I’m sure our township trustees would be willing to work with us.”
Davis noted that evening meetings have been poorly attended in the past. But he hoped with advance notice, more people might come out to make their voice heard.
Powell Selected Chairman
At the meeting, commissioners unanimously selected Commissioner Scottie Powell as chairman and Commissioner Cathy Coleman as vice-chairman.
Commissioner Coleman nominated Davis to represent the board at the County Commissioner of Ohio Association with Powell serving as an alternate. Davis was also selected to serve on the CCOA board for 2022.
“I’m honored to be able to represent Scioto County on that board,” Davis said. “When we vote, I always contact my colleagues to see how they feel about that matter.”
“It’s a critical function and it’s a critical seat,” Commissioner Powell said. “Bryan’s done a very good job representing us in Columbus.”
Davis said that the CCAO was a critical part of Scioto County receiving $1.5 million in jail renovation funding in 2021. “That was CCAO laboring and lobbying for that funding.”
Big Plans for 2022
He paid tribute to late Commissioner Mike Crabtree’s work on the CCAO board. “It’s an honor to try to fill his shoes.” Davis also had kind words for Powell and Coleman. “It is an honor to sit on this board with these two individuals. The progress that was made in 2021 was huge… in the middle of a pandemic. The government has not ceased. It has not stalled. It has continued and there’s been a consistency of progress.”
Davis pointed out that the county had closed out the year with record carryover and reserves and refinanced its long-term debt to save over a million dollars in interest. “That was a giant haul. That was a big haul.” The commissioner says there’s more progression coming in 2022. “We’re not slowing down. The pedal’s to the metal. There’s a lot of things on the drawing board for 2022.”
