The Portage County Board of Commissioners approved a slate of routine financial items and authorized staff actions during its regular meeting.

By roll call the board directed the auditor to process bills, ACH payments, wires and journal vouchers contingent on standard verification by the county auditor and the Department of Budget and Financial Management. It also approved budget amendments presented by the Department of Budget and Financial Management and a cash-advance repayment from fund 1480 (Violence Against Women Act) to the general fund.

The board approved transfers between funds, amended a prior resolution to change the authorized vehicle purchase (to a 2025 Chevy Blazer, VIN ending in 4582) for the Portage County Water Resources Department, and approved distribution of marriage-license/divorce-fee special-fund monies for 2026 to shelters for victims of domestic violence.

On a separate motion, the board authorized Portage County Water Resources to begin contract negotiations with a selected advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) firm. The motion to begin contract negotiations was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.

All recorded procedural motions noted roll-call approvals; the clerk recorded affirmative votes for the present commissioners. The motions include standard contingencies and references to applicable Ohio Revised Code sections cited during the meeting.

Next steps: implementation and contract negotiations to proceed under departmental direction and with standard procurement oversight.