South Summit Council of Governments Regular Meeting – October 6, 2026

The South Summit Council of Governments (SSCOG) convened its regular meeting on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 8:30 AM at the City of Green Central Administration Building. Mayor Rocco Yeargin presided. The council addressed four policy resolutions recommended by the Julian & Grube audit, adopted the 2027 Dispatch Center budget, and reviewed bank reconciliations and financial statements.

Consent Calendar

• The council unanimously approved the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on June 26, 2026.

Discussion Items

• Policy Manual Additions (Resolutions 2026-08 through 2026-11): The council adopted four resolutions formalizing additions to the SSCOG Policy and Procedure Manual, Section 4.05 Part B, as Items 11 through 14. These policies were initially recommended by the Julian & Grube audit and reviewed by legal counsel.
  • RESOLUTION 2026-08 (Reimbursement): Establishes that an employee may be reimbursed for a purchase including sales tax up to $500 when utilizing their own resources. Purchases over this amount must utilize the COG’s sales tax exemption authority.
  • RESOLUTION 2026-09 (Rewards): Permits public officials and employees to use frequent flyer miles, credit card rewards, and hotel points earned during official business in their personal life. It prohibits choosing vendors based on reward programs and prohibits travel planners from personally using rewards earned in connection with group travel.
  • RESOLUTION 2026-10 (Whistleblower Policy): Provides protections for employees who report gross mismanagement, gross waste, abuse of authority, public health dangers, or legal violations related to funds. Outlines reporting procedures including the Ohio Auditor of State's Special Investigations Unit and guarantees non-retaliation.
  • RESOLUTION 2026-11 (Fraud Reporting): Mandates compliance with Ohio Revised Code 117.103(B), requiring new employees and officials to acknowledge fraud reporting material within 30 days of taking office, with mandatory refresher training every four years.
• Dispatch Manager’s Report:
  • Leslie Hayman presented the proposed 2027 Dispatch Budget totaling $2,387,848.81, representing a 3.1% increase over the 2026 budget of $2,315,021.29. The budget draws from five member communities: Green (60.38%, $1,150,620.49), New Franklin (39.62%, $755,011.32), Lakemore ($74,280.00), Clinton ($12,417.00), and Springfield ($360,520.00). Personnel costs are projected at $2,003,495.81, operations at $299,663.00, and capital lease payments at $54,700.00.
  • The Five-Year Capital Plan (2027-2031) was reviewed. This includes the final year of a lease for a Motorola radio console ($23,700 in 2027), a planned upgrade to Motorola AXS by 2030 (estimated $462,000), computer replacements ($7,000 annually), and replacement of Consollettes ($24,000 in 2027, $12,000 annually in 2028-2030).
• Treasurer’s Report:
  • Treasurer Brian Huff reviewed bank reconciliations for July 2026 (ending book balance: $341,411.39) and August 2026 (ending book balance: $470,035.44).
  • The Huntington Bank Statement for August 2026 was presented. The interest-bearing checking account earned $419.60 in interest, yielding 1.105% for the period. Total service charges for the month were $188.30. An adjustment of $513.70 related to a bankruptcy garnishment withholding was noted for formal reconciliation in a future period.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously adopted Resolutions 2026-08, 2026-09, 2026-10, and 2026-11, adding four new policies to the SSCOG Policy and Procedure Manual.
• Approved the 2027 Dispatch Budget of $2,387,848.81.
• Discussed the 2027-2031 Five-Year Capital Plan, including the $462,000 Motorola console upgrade by 2030.
• Accepted the July and August 2026 Bank Reconciliations and the August 2026 Huntington Bank Statement.
• Next Meeting: Scheduled for Thursday, December 10, 2026, at 9:30 AM.