WINTERSVILLE — Jefferson County commissioners are hoping a new operating agreement with the Humane Society will erase questions about who is responsible for what at their shared facility.

At Thursday’s meeting, commissioners signed off on the eight-page agreement, saying it “establishes the working relationship between the Humane Society and the Jefferson County Animal Shelter, basically.” It will be in effect for three years.

The agreement emphasizes duties, Commissioner Eric Timmons said.

“We have a partnership, and I feel this will help that continue,” said Timmons, who oversaw the discussions. “Nothing big changed, but we will all continue to work toward the goals of the humane treatment of animals.”

The Humane Society, for instance, will continue to focus on feline needs with county employees doing the same for the dog population. The agreement also addresses staffing common areas like the front office and customer services area, and keeping those areas as well as the grooming room and veterinarian/medical room

Commissioners retain control of the facility and their county employees, and the Humane Society staff will report “solely and directly to no party other than … commissioners.” In the event of an operational dispute, commissioners will have the final say on all matters pertaining to dogs while the Humane Society will have that same authority over matters involving cats.

Commissioner Tony Morelli said the goal was to develop an agreement that all parties can appreciate.

Also Thursday, commissioners were updated on the upcoming Jefferson County Fair, which officially kicks off Aug. 11.

“We are so thankful for all you guys do financially and emotionally, you’re always there for us,” Treasurer Debbie Hukill said. “Our fair officially starts August 11, but if you look at our schedule, we have a lot of stuff that goes on before that. We have a packed week and we’re hoping the weather helps us out, (that) we lose some of this heat and thunderstorms, that’s a real deal breaker. But … we’re working hard to get the place ready for everybody, and I think it’s going to be a great fair and lots of thanks goes to the County Commissioners and your different departments.”

Hukill said last year’s fair garnered attention statewide for an innovative program where individuals with disabilities were given the chance to show lambs, hogs or rabbits free of charge, reporting state officials are coming in to see it first-hand.

The program is the brainchild of Edison Local student, Mimi Ault, who worked with Special Olympics to make it happen. Admission is free.

“Partners from all around the county (are) all working together to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to show livestock…so they can see what it’s like,” Hukill said. “That’s on the Saturday before the fair and we do a mentoring program — we have young people lined up to show the contestants how to (show them) what to do with the (animals). We did it last year and it was a great day.”

Assistant Engineer Clay Merrin, meanwhile, told commissioners the engineering department is hoping to spray this year and possibly do some infrastructure upgrades over the next year to improve the fairgrounds, including chipping-and-sealing.

“People come from all around, from different states, different counties,” Commissioner Jake Kleineke said. “You guys work hard very hard — I appreciate that.”

Commissioners also:

• Accepted the amounts and rates as determined by the budget commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor, required annually under the Ohio Revised Code.

• Agreed to have the county prosecutor prepare a lease agreement between Jefferson County Airpark and local entrepreneur Eric Bates for the seven parcels his business currently occupies.

• Authorized the water and sewer department to replace one employee who is retiring and another who accepted another position.

• Awarded the contract for the Berghoz/Springfield township project to Shelly & Sands, Rayland, for slightly more than $196.039. It’s part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Development Block Grant program, Regional Planning Commission Director Betty Lou Tarr said. The project estimate was $172,000.

• Agreed to advertise the 2025 pavement marking program. The engineer’s estimate is $146,802.

• Awarded the contract for the County Road 6 bridge replacement project for just over $1,585,301, but because it’s partially funded with state funds, it cannot be signed until the funds are encumbered. Bridge Engineer Kara Bernhart told commissioners the projected construction cost for the project is $1,585,301, but under the terms of a state funds exchange project agreement for the work, ODOT will reimburse 80 percent of eligible costs up to $1,145,840 with the remainder divided between Jefferson and Harrison counties.

• Received a letter of thanks from the Jefferson County Resource Network’s Beth Rupert-Warren and the Educational Service Center for approving funding supporting the network, a comprehensive listing of local service providers and organizations. Rupert-Warren said their goal is to connect people to the support they need.