Re-introduce the Association

Cheryl Subler, CCAO Executive Director
John Leutz, CCAO Assistant Director
Kyle Petty, CCAO Managing Director of Policy
Presentation

Cory Noonan, CORSA President and Allen County Commissioner
John Brownlee, CORSA Managing Director, Property and Casualty
Presentation

Tony Bornhorst, CEBCO President and Shelby County Commissioner
Mike Kindell, CEBCO Managing Director of Health and Wellness
Presentation

County Government Functions & Officeholders

• Roles & Responsibilities
• Understanding Importance of State Partnership & Advocacy

Larry Long, Former CCAO Executive Director
Kyle Petty, CCAO Managing Director of Policy
Presentation

County Employment Basics

Your county employees are an integral part of determining the success of your county programs and services to taxpayers. Managing public employees requires understanding the basics of Ohio’s Civil Service Laws and Collective Bargaining Law. This session includes civil service topics such as classified and unclassified positions, termination, layoff procedures, and an employee’s appellate rights to the Personnel Board of Review. Collective bargaining topics include unit determination, role of the commissioners in negotiations, management rights, unfair labor practices, approval of labor contracts, dispute resolution procedures, the right to strike, and how a bargaining agreement relates to provisions of state law and the county budgets.

County Budgeting Basics

One of the primary responsibilities of a county commissioner is to determine the budget priorities for the county. Our experienced panel will explore the major revenue sources and areas of mandated expenses and then examine the appropriation process and discuss how some counties manage their budget process. Other areas will include the role of the county budget commission, legal level of control, budgeting for special revenue funds, how to work with departments and elected officials in preparing the budget, and how to monitor the budget and procedures for line-item transfers and supplemental appropriations.

Procurement/Purchasing

County government must be transparent and use specific processes when purchasing goods with taxpayer dollars. Topics to be discussed will include competitive bidding requirements and exemptions, notice and publication requirements, bid bonds, performance bonds, purchase contracts, certificate of availability of funds by the county auditor, purchase orders, and the authorized use of credit and procurement cards for making purchases. 

Frank Hatfield, Esq., CORSA Risk Manager
Beth Miller, Esq., CORSA Claim and Litigation Manager
Presentation

Conducting Public Meetings

Transparency is an essential component of conducting business as a public official. Some aspects are obvious, others are not. Learn the essentials about Ohio’s open meeting requirements and how other counties organize and conduct regular and special sessions of the board of county commissioners. This session will also discuss such issues as the limited reasons allowed to enter into executive session, conducting regular and special sessions, meeting agenda and procedures, and maintaining the Commissioner’s Journal and minutes. We will also touch upon Roberts’ Rules of Order, notifications of news media, and citizen participation. This session provides a framework for future training that is required by law for all county elected officials during their term of office, but it does not count as the official training. 

Ethics

This session will teach you the provisions of Ohio’s ethics laws, conflicts of interest, and illegal interests in public contracts. We will also explore situations that most often get elected officials into trouble and how to avoid them.

Economic Development & Workforce

Many county commissioners, county executives and county council members make economic development and job creation a top priority during campaigns. What are the tools at your disposal to make this happen? What are the barriers? What are the various local economic development structures, state and local incentive programs? We will explore these and other topics, such as working with JobsOhio and the role of elected officials and economic development professionals. 

Roundtable Discussions

Broadband
Constituent Services
Dog Warden
Experienced Commissioners
HR Hotline Advice
Solar & Wind Siting Authority

Human Services

Ohio has delegated responsibility for the administration of many critical social service programs to counties. Whether it is the protection of vulnerable populations, the establishment of child support, helping families with food assistance or helping find a path to employment or re-employment, counties are on the front lines and touch the lives of many citizens with these programs. Each program and funding stream comes with distinct regulations, acronyms and community impacts that will be important to understand.

Joel Potts, Executive Director, Ohio Job and Family Services Directors’ Association (OJFSDA)
Laura Abu-Absi, Assistant Executive Director, OJFSDA
Angela Sausser, Executive Director, Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO)
Amy Roehrenbeck, Executive Director, Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) Directors’ Association (OCDA)
Presentation

Justice & Public Safety

The administration of justice is a large component in any county’s budget, often accounting for around 60%-70% of general revenue funds. Two large components of this system at the county level are the county jail and indigent defense. Understanding how these components work is important to understanding where and how much of the county revenues are spent. This session will look at the jail system, its responsibilities and challenges, and the counties’ obligation to provide indigent defense representation. 

George Maier, Stark County Sheriff
Michael Heldman, Hancock County Sheriff
Tim Young, Ohio Public Defender
Presentation

Lunch & Learn: Setting a Vision & Strategic Plan for Your County

Developing a mission and strategic plan for your county helps your team and stakeholders understand the importance of a team vision and articulate the core values, purpose, strategy and goals. Outlining how you will get there and regularly and clearly communicating with staff and stakeholders is vital. Telling your county’s story is an important part of an elected official’s job.

Melanie Flax Wilt, Clark County Commissioner
Presentation

Carri Brown, Fairfield County Auditor
Presentation

Boards & Commissions Appointments

Learn best practices for appointing members to boards and commissions, a key role for boards of commissioners across the state.

Gary Merrell, Delaware County Commissioner
Jane Hawes, Delaware County Communications Director
Presentation
Board Appointment Guide