Holmes County Commissioners Set 2026 Appointments, Approve Online Surplus Auction

The Holmes County Board of Commissioners at its December 10 meeting finalized a slate of 2026 appointments and passed a resolution to conduct an internet auction for unneeded county personal property under the provisions of House Bill 226. Commissioners set procedures for selling items including county vehicles, road machinery, equipment and tools, and directed that purchases must be paid for and removed within five days.

Under the online auction plan the board specified that each auction must run for a minimum 15 day period, that items will be sold "as is," and that the county will use a reputable auction service to host and manage sales. The resolution formalizes a move to internet based disposal of surplus property, a step county officials say will broaden access to buyers beyond in person sales and reduce storage burdens for county facilities.

The board also completed annual appointments for 2026. Larry Meherg was reappointed as county apiary inspector. Misty Burns was designated to a set of human resources and compliance roles including county civil service representative, County EE officer, HIPAA privacy contact and loss control coordinator among other duties. Commissioners Dave Hall, Joe Miller and Eric Strouse received voting assignments and representative designations for the Ohio Public Works Commission and the County Commissioners Association. The commissioners additionally named members to an Airport Terminal and Hangar Project Selection Committee for the county's airport project planning.

The actions carry practical impacts for residents and for county operations. The internet auction can generate revenue and clear surplus inventory that would otherwise occupy space and require maintenance. The requirement that buyers remove purchases within five days shifts handling costs to buyers and may favor local bidders who can transport items quickly. Selling items "as is" places the due diligence burden on purchasers and reduces county liability but could limit bids for assets that require repair.

Appointments to compliance and representative posts affect continuity in county oversight, from workers compensation and HIPAA compliance to representation before state funding bodies. Those designations determine who speaks for Holmes County in regional funding decisions and how internal rules will be administered in 2026. The board indicated that auction dates and committee meeting schedules will be announced following vendor selection and further administrative steps.