County administrator Matt Springer presented three resolutions: advertise a public bid for a new county dog shelter, approve recommended opioid settlement awards recommending five groups for a total of $439,893.79, and authorize change order #3 for Medina County Engineering Center roof replacement for $8,360; the board approved all three.

Jeremy Cinco, sanitary engineer, asked the board to set public hearings on recommended sanitary sewer and water rate increases and to authorize an application to the Ohio EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Fund for 2027 funds to replace failing household sewage systems.

MCBDD Superintendent Stacey Maleckar told commissioners a moratorium on new Medicaid waiver providers and rising county Medicaid-match obligations are stressing county boards; she also recognized community champions and introduced Leadership Academy graduates.

Eric from the Soil & Water office described recent youth education activities with OSU Extension, progress on MS4 stormwater permitting and a Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District development fund to create a nonpoint source implementation strategy for the River Sticks watershed.

The Mental Health and Recovery Board told commissioners levy funds supported services for 6,838 clients in Oct–Dec 2025, described supportive housing capacity and group-home costs (about $3,300 per person per month), and flagged increased use of forensic beds at state hospitals and steady hotline/crisis engagement numbers.

Commissioner Steve led a lengthy discussion and won agreement to draft a letter to Rep. Max Miller and the senators opposing proposed Office of Management and Budget rules that officials said could permit federal discretionary grants to be changed or rescinded mid-project, creating fiscal risk for county programs.

County administrators won approval for four administrative resolutions including a continuity-of-operations plan, authorization to issue anticipatory notes not to exceed $7,000,000 for a new dog shelter, declaring an older county vehicle surplus, and setting 2027 health/dental funding with a 4.5% renewal and a new high-deductible plan option.

EMA Deputy Director Josh Tidy said the county held multiple trainings for fire and public safety agencies, plans additional incident-command training, has 9,200 residents signed up for its new mass-notification system, and expects certain grants to be exhausted this quarter.

County Engineer Andy Conrad proposed administrative changes to require advance notifications, township plans, and a limit of four open permits per fiber company to force timely closeout of work; Commissioners supported the approach pending legal review.

Steve Besheen reviewed multiple facilities projects across county buildings: new asset-management software, door-control installations, a juvenile-detention roofing job about 40% complete, asbestos discovered in window sills requiring abatement, and consideration of tankless water heaters.

County staff proposed procedural changes to tighten oversight of fiber-optic installations — requiring resident notifications, plans to townships, inspections before permit closure and a maximum of four open permits per fiber company — and commissioners supported seeking legal review before implementation.

Finance Director Brett Thomas presented 11 finance resolutions covering a $400,000 donation to the fair board, expenditure and revenue adjustments, a tuberculosis funding agreement, a $2.81/gal gasoline purchase, and weekly bills totaling $1,562,788.97; the board approved the package by roll call.

Sanitary engineer Jeremy Cinco told commissioners the Southern Water District is under an Ohio EPA notice of violation for auxiliary water systems; about 128 properties were affected, roughly 80 completed compliance, about 41 remain unresolved ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline and could face shutoffs if they do not abandon auxiliary systems or install backflow preventers. Commissioners discussed certified mail, hand-delivered notices for a small group, inspection delays and the precedent this sets for larger systems.

Commissioners reported a meeting with EMA and department staff to improve public communications following a large set of water‑main breaks, and later voted to enter executive session to discuss imminent litigation and property acquisition/sale.

Medina Metropolitan Housing Authority reported 195 people stayed at Next Step Up from January–July and that its Lafayette supportive housing (11 units) is over 80% complete; MMHA said 29 guests this year moved into leases and 39 found employment.

Commissioners reviewed challenges collecting lodging taxes from short‑term rental platforms and asked the prosecutor to consider options, including whether the county can waive past liabilities to bring operators into compliance prospectively.

The board proclaimed Aug. 31, 2026, as Overdose Awareness Day. Mental Health & Recovery Board director Phillip Titterington reported 7,189 clients served in the quarter, 714 crisis engagements, and continued pressure from forensic placements and flat state funding.

The Medina County Convention & Visitors Bureau reported successful events, high demand for visitor guides, a planned 2027 venue move for Big Ohio Book Con, and marketing placements that generated tens of thousands of views; the bureau estimates tourism delivers $657 per household in county economic impact.

A major water main leak and high-flow interconnect caused 22 leaks and a boil-water advisory for southern Chippewa customers; county staff repaired the leaks and later found a nearly closed valve from July work that had restricted service. Commissioners called for better emergency communications.

Job & Family Services Director Katie Masternick told commissioners the federal-state Medicaid Community Engagement Activity (MCEA) could affect about 5,000 of roughly 20,000 county Medicaid recipients; CMS has begun informal notices and formal county training is scheduled for December.