ST. CLAIRSVILLE, Ohio – The Belmont County Board of Commissioners voiced their support at Wednesday morning’s commission meeting for the Senior Services and 911 levies on the Nov. 3 ballot.
Commissioners heard presentations from Lisa Kazmirski, Executive Director of Senior Services of Belmont County and Bryan Minder, Director of Belmont County 911 on the need for the levies and their financial breakdowns.
Jerry Echemann, commission president, urges voters to especially support the Senior Services levy.
“I think I speak for the entire board when I say that we urge all the citizens vote yes on this levy,” Echemann said.
Senior Services is seeking voter approval to renew its levy at a reduced rate, dropping from 1 mill to 0.75 mill. The levy currently generates about $1.8 million annually, meaning the reduction would save taxpayers approximately $450,000 a year while reducing revenue available to the agency by 25%. Kamzmirski said voters initially approved this levy in 2007.
Two separate levies currently support Senior Services and generate between $4.5 million and $5 million annually, accounting for a significant portion of the agency’s approximately $6 million budget, Kazmirski explained.
She said the funding supports many services, including 10 senior centers, home-delivered meals and non-emergency medical transportation.
The 1-mill levy on the November ballot for renewal generated approximately $1.8 million based on 2025 collections. Reducing it to 0.75 mill will reduce that revenue by about $450,000.
“So that one mill is going to go to 0.75, so it’s a 25% reduction of that $1.8 million. So we’re going to bring in a lot less, but we hope to change a few things, become more efficient,” Kazmirski explained.
Kazmirski said Senior Services has accumulated money from previous levy collections that can help offset the reduction if necessary.
“For years, we’ve had a carryover each year in the bank, so to speak,” she said.
She said the carryover resulted in part from a third senior-services levy that was discontinued after it had generated more revenue than the agency needed.
“So with this reduction, if we need extra money, we can tap into that carryover,” Kazmirski said.
Senior Services asks voters for support
Kazmirski emphasized that the levies directly support services relied upon by Belmont County seniors.
“I ask the community to please vote yes because it’s for the seniors, it’s for services they need.”
Senior Services operates 10 senior centers, with each center staffed by a coordinator and an assistant. The centers also have vehicles to transport seniors who cannot drive or are homebound.
Kazmirski said the agency isn’t providing services simply because it operates as a county agency, but because residents depend on them.
“We know that people need these services, that people depend on these services.”
Seniors can receive transportation to the centers, participate in activities and fellowship, and receive a congregate meal.
The agency also assists seniors with grocery shopping when transportation is otherwise unavailable, including helping them return home and unload their groceries.
“There’s a lot going on at the senior centers that a lot of folks in the county couldn’t go without.” Kazmirski said.
Senior Services also distributes commodity food boxes and fresh produce through a partnership with the Mid-Ohio Food Bank.
Commissioners approved a $56,019 purchase of a new box truck with a liftgate from Whiteside of St. Clairsville for Senior Services Wednesday which Kazmirski said will be used partly for food distribution.
Kazimirski said the agency’s new box truck will improve safety and efficiency. The truck will have a liftgate, eliminating the need for employees to manually move heavy food boxes.
“The box truck is going to help save our backs, quite literally, and it’s going to increase safety for our staff,” Kazimirski said.
She said the agency also faces changes in how it is reimbursed for home-delivered meals. Senior Services previously received about $250,000 annually through Passport billing, but now must bill four insurance providers following the transition to MyCare Waiver services.
Belmont County 911 Radio System Levy
The commissioners also discussed the county’s 0.75-mill 911 radio-system renewal levy. The levy funds the countywide public-safety radio network, including portable and mobile radios, towers, software, hardware and maintenance. If renewed, the levy would be in effect for five years and generate approximately $1.675 million annually for Belmont County’s emergency radio communications system.
Minder said the county’s 911 system recently used levy funds to purchase 604 portable radios at a cost of approximately $4.3 million. Minder said the purchase was paid for without financing or interest.
Minder said radio maintenance alone costs more than $400,000 annually, while additional major expenses are expected as vehicle-mounted radios eventually need replacement.
“One of the biggest reasons that we didn’t lower the levy this time is because we just did the portable radios,” he said.
Minder called the 911 system essential to public safety in the county.
“It’s definitely a lifeline for all of the first responders in Belmont County — fire, police, EMS, EMA, everyone that uses the system,” Minder explained.
CodeRED system restored
Minder said the county CodeRED emergency notification system, which had experienced problems after its vendor was hacked last year, has been moved to a new platform and now is performing well.
Kazmirski told commissioners that Senior Services uses CodeRED to notify clients about service disruptions caused by storms, emergencies and other circumstances.
Commissioners Support Both Levies
Commissioners expressed support for both levy renewals, emphasizing that the levies provide essential services while the county continues trying to control costs.
The 911 levy would continue funding the county’s emergency radio system and support the transition to Next Generation 911, while the Senior Services levy would renew funding at a reduced rate, lowering the tax burden while maintaining essential programs.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation
The commissioners issued a proclamation to recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Gabby Timko, Belmont County Health Department Director of Nursing, updated commissioners about screening services available to county residents.
Other Business
In other business, commissioners rejected the one bid received for a slide repair project on Sept. 30 based upon the recommendation of Belmont County Engineer Terry Lively. The bid was over 20 percent of the estimate. The project will be redesigned and re-bid at a later date.
Commissioners accepted a proposal from Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. for $9,500 for geo-technical services for the Belmont County Engineer’s new salt storage building at the Neffs Garage.
They also accepted an estimate from Rite Carpeting and Decorating LLC for $5,745 to take up and dispose of old carpet and install new carpet in the Belmont County Human Resources offices.
Commissioners accepted a proposal from H.E. Neuman Company for $5,975 for replacement of five failed reheat valves at the Belmont County Jail.
The commissioners entered into a staffing agreement on behalf of the Belmont County Animal Shelter with Coleman Health Services to provide staffing by its clients to the shelter for a work opportunity program. Commissioner Jerry Echemann stated Coleman Health Services will pay the clients and there is no cost to the county for this service.
The board authorized Echemann to sign the VOCA and SVAA Grant Award and Acceptance Form for the Belmont County Prosecutor’s Victim Assistance grant for the period of Oct. 1, 2026 through Sept. 30, 2027. The VOCA Award is for $29,664 and the SVAA Award is for $6,640.
Commissioners’ Announce Meeting Date Change
The board of commissioners will hold its regular meeting at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 instead of Wednesday, Oct. 21 due to a scheduling conflict.
