COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Franklin County Board of Commissioners opened its April 14 meeting with a ceremony recognizing state champion athletes from winter sports, then unanimously approved a series of resolutions including more than $1.3 million in road funding and contracts for sheriff’s office software.
Commissioners John O’Grady and Kevin Crowley, sitting without Commissioner Erica Crawley, welcomed athletes from wrestling, swimming, diving and bowling programs across Franklin County and neighboring Delaware County.
“This is always one of my favorite meetings of the year,” Crowley said, noting the board expanded recognition beyond Franklin County to include surrounding counties. He told the athletes their championships should serve as a springboard, not a peak achievement.
“This should not be the most important thing you’ve ever done in your life,” Crowley said. “It should simply be a stepping stone on to greater things.”
The board then moved to business, approving five Safe Routes to Schools resolutions totaling $1,348,000 for the Wagner Road improvement project in Reynoldsburg. The funding, drawn from county motor vehicle license fee allocations, will establish and widen roads in Madison Township near Dunlow Elementary and Madison Elementary, adding pedestrian infrastructure, ADA curb ramps and crossings.
Commissioners approved a $69,825 contract with Affiliated Resource Group for technical assistance with network infrastructure and security.
The sheriff’s office received approval for three software agreements: a $42,815.90 contract with LexisNexis for virtual crime center software, a $458,490 contract with North Point for a corrections classification system, and a $34,930.35 transfer of appropriations for prisoner return expenses.
The board authorized an $81,000 grant to Male Behavioral Health for community-based violence prevention and behavioral health education, including programming for Black Suicide Prevention Week, Black Girl Dad Week and the Deaths of Despair Symposium.
A $60,000 professional services agreement with the Columbus Council on World Affairs will provide cultural fluency training for county employees.
Sanitary Engineering Director Stephen Renner secured approval for a $12,236.67 contract with Hydro Corp for backflow management software and a $472,397.68 contract modification with AMT Consulting Group for funding acquisition services.
The board approved 79 purchase orders totaling $945,196.87 and three purchase orders totaling $40,921 for various county agencies.
Commissioners voted to indefinitely postpone Resolution 194/2026, a $325,000 grant agreement for the Sunrise Youth Development Violence Prevention program with That’s a Real Situation, for further review.
The meeting concluded with approval of Resolution 238/2026, authorizing the county administrator to approve certain expenditures for meetings and community outreach, extending previous authority. Deputy County Administrator Chris Long said the authorization would be exercised only to meet timely governmental functions and would be logged with the clerk’s office.