Carroll County has received the Auditor of State Award for its fiscal year 2025 audit, Auditor Staci Brady announced during the Aug. 27 Carroll County commissioners meeting.
Brady said the award recognizes the county for excellence in financial reporting and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
“I’m very pleased to share that Carroll County has received the Auditor of State Award for fiscal year 2025 for excellence in financial reporting and compliance,” Brady said. “It’s a recognition that the citizens of Carroll County are being well served by effective and accountable financial practices.”
Brady stressed the recognition reflects work throughout county government rather than the efforts of one office.
“I want to emphasize that this is not an award that belongs to just one office,” Brady said. “It represents the work of people throughout county government who take their responsibility to manage and account for public funds seriously.”
Brady specifically recognized Jennifer Phillips and Christine Timmerman for the time and attention to detail they devoted to the county’s financial reporting and audit process. She also thanked the remainder of her staff, the commissioners, other elected officials and department heads for maintaining accurate financial information.
“The annual audit may be when the work gets reviewed, but good financial reporting is really the result of work that happens every day, all year long,” Brady said. “I’m very proud of what our county has accomplished, and I’m grateful to everyone who plays a part in keeping Carroll County financially responsible and accountable.”
Commissioner Robert Wirkner said he understood the award is difficult for counties to receive.
“It’s rather prestigious because I understand it’s less than 15%,” Wirkner said.
Commissioners also approved hiring Daniel Pesta as the county’s IT director after Wirkner said the cost of contracted information technology services has increased because of the county’s need for assistance outside normal business hours.
Wirkner said the county currently contracts with Ruts for $11,407 annually for service from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Services outside the contract are billed separately, including $135 per hour for after-hours, weekend and holiday work and $150 per hour for emergency or urgent work.
Wirkner said those costs are becoming an issue because county operations including the sheriff’s office and 911 require around-the-clock technology support.
“The problem is in the general fund, we have 24/7 operations,” Wirkner said. “The forefront of that would be the sheriff, and the bills are starting to stack up.”
Wirkner said the county’s IT costs, including renewal of the contract, are projected to reach $156,684.27.
“At this rate, we can see what the bills are stacking up to be on a year-over-year basis,” Wirkner said.
Commissioners unanimously approved hiring Pesta at $57.69 per hour. Wirkner said Pesta must complete obligations with his current employer before beginning with the county and estimated that would take at least two weeks.
The county plans to retain its contract with Ruts, with services used at the direction of the new IT director when additional assistance or consultation is needed.
In other business, commissioners:
— APPROVED payment of bills totaling $120,779.13.
— APPROVED driveway right-of-way permits for Dan Detweiler on Arbor Road, County Road 14, in Augusta Township and Kenneth Berquin on Rail Road, County Road 15, in Harrison Township.
— APPROVED Job and Family Services contracts with Destined for More for up to $230,000 and Ohana’s Haven for up to $400,000 for foster child placement services. Both contracts run Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027.
— APPROVED closing approximately 500 feet of Otter Road, County Road 19, east of its intersection with state Route 332 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 8-11 for the annual Algonquin Mill Fall Festival.
— APPROVED providing the Carroll County Historical Society with road-closed signs, orange cones and signposts for the Algonquin Mill Fall Festival at no charge.
— APPROVED a letter of support for the village of Malvern’s Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant application. Commissioners said the proposed project includes work on roadways and a walking trail.
— ACCEPTED the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio renewal rates for the county’s 2027 health plans. Commissioners said the renewal represents an 8.3% increase for 2027.
