By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Industry is booming in Wood County. Sales tax revenue continues to swell. And county offices are back in business after the cyber attack that was a sour end to an otherwise sweet year.
During the State of the County Address Tuesday morning, Wood County Commissioner Craig LaHote addressed the $1.5 million elephant in the room.
After being advised to pay the $1.5 million ransom by a team of nationally recognized cybersecurity and data forensic consultants, all county services have been restored and it’s business as usual for county offices.
That’s not to say there aren’t changes being made.
“We are committed to learning from this incident, and to implementing aggressive measures to improve the county’s security posture going forward,” LaHote said.
The top priority for 2025 will be focused investment in this area.
“We have partnered with a nationally recognized third-party consultant to obtain on-going security evaluations, guidance and recommendations for our systems, and have hired a local consulting firm to support the day-to-day efforts of our in-house IT Department,” LaHote said. “We recognize that no organization can ever be fully safeguarded against a cyber-attack. However, we are confident that the aggressive steps being taken will help to minimize the impact of this type of situation in the future.”
Also during the State of the County event, Wood County Clerk of Courts Doug Cubberley spoke of once being skeptical of former county commissioner Jim Carter’s reference to the “Wood County way.”
But after hearing from court clerks from other counties about dysfunctional working relationships, Cubberley soon realized there is a difference in the way Wood County officials work together. He cited the recent leadership, teamwork and commitment to resolve the cyber attack.
“The state of the county is strong, and Wood County is in good hands,” Cubberley said.
That same teamwork is seen in the courts, according to Wood County Common Pleas Judge Joel Kuhlman. In domestic relations cases, changes have resulted in cutting the number of pending cases in half. “They’ve been working smart and hard,” he said.
Kuhlman said the judges share a belief in investing in legal education and professional development to maintain a quality and efficient court system. That includes education of staff, as well as local students and senior citizens.
“The work we do here takes a team and is built on a commitment to fairness, education and strengthening the foundation of our community. By investing in families, legal professionals and civic engagement, we are shaping a court system that not only upholds justice but also empowers the people it serves,” Kuhlman said.
“This is the standard we set, and this is the work we will continue,” he added.
LaHote reported that Wood County experienced another successful year of economic development in 2024, led by a second Amazon project in Perrysburg Township with a $70 million investment and 500 new jobs, and a Charter Steel expansion in Perry Township with a $22 million investment and 15 new jobs.
Wood County saw further economic investment and job creation by Magna International with the creation of 140 jobs at a new Norplas facility in Rossford, and 120 jobs at a new Vehtek facility in Bowling Green.
Wood County’s glass and solar industry also continued to thrive, LaHote said. NSG invested $160 million in its facility in Rossford and First Solar purchased and finished the interior of the former Peloton building in Troy Township, a $70 million investment.
And in Middleton Township, construction began on the previously announced $750 million data center project.
“We expect the long-awaited name of this Fortune 200 U.S.-owned technology company to be formally announced in the near future,” LaHote said.
“These successes would not be possible without the great collaboration we have in Wood County – between our business partners, our local elected officials, and our team of economic development organizations,” LaHote said.
Wood County finances remained strong in 2024. LaHote attributed this to a healthy local economy, steady revenues and conservative budgeting practices.
In December, the commissioners approved the 2025 General Fund appropriations totaling just over $55 million – a 4.48% increase over last year.
Sales tax continues to be the largest source of revenue for the county. In 2024, the county collected $29.1 million – a slight increase over 2023. This is the second year of modest year-over-year sales tax increases. Despite the smaller increases, the county continues its long trend of positive sales tax growth.
Commissioner Doris Herringshaw talked about two major expansion projects nearing completion at the county jail and county landfill.
“We are pleased to report that the $28 million jail renovation and expansion project that began in late 2022 is nearly complete,” Herringshaw said.
The new booking, housing and medical areas have been approved by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections and are fully operational.
Last year, the Ohio EPA approved the county’s landfill expansion permit, which provides for nearly 100 years of expansion capacity on land purchased by the commissioners decades ago. The $2.9 million expansion of the landfill will be completed in phases.
The county will also be working on several other facility-related projects this year.
- Courtroom 1 office renovations, where the support staff work, and visitors wait. It is a small, but essential area – and this project will create a much more efficient layout. Judge Matt Reger is making efforts to ensure these improvements align with the historical integrity of the building.
- Space study for the first floor of the courthouse, which will focus on security concerns in the Domestic Relations Court. That court operates in two courtrooms, with one being considerably smaller than the other. Given the volatile nature of some of the proceedings, the smaller courtroom can pose security concerns, Herringshaw said. The study will also include an evaluation of the elevator in the courthouse. While the elevator is properly certified and regularly maintained, it is old and undersized, she said.
- Update of the Wood County Land Use Plan update, which serves as a comprehensive guide for logical and managed growth throughout the county. The Planning Commission will be overseeing this effort. The updated plan is expected to take more than a year to complete and will involve public input from numerous stakeholders throughout the county.
- New county garage facility to replace the current highway garage located on Poe Road in Bowling Green. The three buildings on the site need extensive repairs and maintenance. The facility also has an above ground fueling station and a salt shed, which are both undersized for current operations. Last June, the county was awarded $1 million from the state for a study to determine the most appropriate location for the facility, plus site work and infrastructure improvements.
Commissioner Ted Bowlus talked about the Healthy Aging Grant program for Ohio counties, enabling older adults to stay in their homes and stay connected to their communities, preserve their personal assets, and promote a healthy, independent, and active lifestyle.
Wood County received $473,335 under this program, and the commissioners provided those funds to the Wood County Committee on Aging to ensure the dollars would be used locally.
The funds were used for housing repairs, meals and food delivery trucks, transportation vehicles, adult day care services, internet access and digital upgrades, nursing services, and financial support for the Guardianship Services Board.
Bowlus also talked about funding from OneOhio, from lawsuits filed by the state against opioid manufacturers and distributors in hopes of recouping some of the tax dollars spent dealing with opioid addiction.
Wood County has now received over $780,000 from the settlements. The money will be used for AED devices for road deputies, for medical costs at the jail related to drug addiction, and for marketing and education materials for the Addiction Response Collaborative. Three other funded projects involving Wood County organizations will be providing substance abuse services locally.
“We all know people whose lives have been touched by substance abuse. We are hopeful that these projects, and the ones that follow, will make a meaningful difference in the fight against addiction,” Bowlus said.
He also reported on Wood Haven Health Care, which was named a 5-star Quality Measure Performer by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and earned a 9.15 out of 10 customer satisfaction rating.
“Even with these successes, increased competition has impacted Wood Haven’s census and revenue. We will be evaluating how to address this challenge in the coming year,” Bowlus said.
An update was presented on the $25.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded to Wood County, and allocated to projects throughout the county. The following ARPA projects have been substantially completed:
• Water and sewer improvements on Mercer Road.
• Water system improvements in Pemberville and North Baltimore.
• An expansion project at the Wood County Landfill.
• Identification and replacement of lead water service lines throughout the county.
Several other projects are either on-going or will begin in 2025. They include:
• Two stormwater projects managed by the county engineer.
• HVAC upgrades in several county-owned buildings.
• Financial assistance for the Cocoon Shelter and Habitat for Humanity.
• Financial assistance for a building renovation at the Wood County Health Department.
• Extension of water and sewer lines to Dunbridge.
• Continued implementation of the county-wide computer aided dispatch, records management, and jail management communication system.
“We believe that these projects will provide lasting benefits to our community,” Bowlus said.
Bowlus also talked about the Wood County Solid Waste District’s drop-off recycling program, which collected over 655 tons of recyclables last year. The program has 14 drop-off sites throughout the county. One of the district’s top priorities in 2025 will be decreasing contamination in the recycling bins.
