MEDINA – About 40 more county employees have been awarded 2 percent pay raises as a result of a new labor contract approved by Medina County commissioners March 28.

Commissioners voted to approve a new two-year labor contract for drivers in the county Transit Department. Terms of the contracts also call for affected employees to receive 2 percent raises again in 2018.

Holly Muren, human resources director for the county, said the new contracts contain no other major changes in benefits from the current labor contracts they are replacing.

Muren took the lead in the contract negotiations which were conducted with representatives of the Medina County Transit Drivers Association. The contract is the latest of several negotiated with various labor unions representing county employees and Muren said one more contract is still being negotiated.

Commissioners also approved 2.5 percent raises for nonunion county employees in January.

The county employs 1,300 people in all, some of whom are also represented by unions that negotiate with the sheriff or other elected officials.

Change order

County commissioners approved the final change order on a contract with Shelly Company for the resurfacing of West 130th Street from state Route 3 to Boston Road. County Administrator Scott Miller reports the change order reduced the $1.4 million contract by $115,000 after the work was completed.

Forfeited vehicle

Commissioners authorized the Medina County Drug Task Force to add a vehicle to its fleet used for undercover operations. The vehicle had been seized and ordered forfeited to the county by the Common Pleas Court.

Personnel expenses

Commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses were $5,000 for two employees in the Adult Probation Department to receive five days of training from the National Drug Court Institute in Reno, Nev.; $1,200 for six people employed by the Juvenile Court to attend a training program in Columbus; $818 for the chief building inspector to attend a two-day training program held by the International Code Council in Columbus; $660 for two sheriff’s deputies to receive two days of training on sport utility vehicle operations; and $650 for a probate court magistrate to attend a three-day conference in Mason.

Energy conservation

Commissioners terminated a $40,000 annual contract with Gardiner Energy Services to monitor energy saving systems installed by the county in 2014. County Administrator Scott Miller said the county’s energy conservation measures last year exceeded goals and a less extensive energy monitoring program is likely to replace the one Gardiner had been providing.

Sewer sampling

Commissioners approved a two-year agreement with the Medina County Health Department to sample storm sewer content to comply with the Environmental Protection Agency permit issued the county to operate a small municipal storm sewer system. The agreement calls for the County Engineer to pay the health department $95 for each sample.

Commended

Commissioners issued resolutions commending the 30 high school girls selected to take part in the 2017 Spring Leadership Ball in service to the nonprofit organization Feeding Medina County.

Leadership ball participants rank in the top third of their class and have demonstrated community involvement and leadership.

The Leadership Ball participants and the high schools they represent include:

Black River – Kyra Saade, Kaina Schmoll

Brunswick – Jessica Baloun, Allison Cipalla, Emily Ina, Andrea Lindsey, Molly McGinnis, Jordyn Pitcher, Olivia Ujlaki

Buckeye – Samantha Ponomarenko, Hannah Smith, Rihannon Woods

Highland – Sarah Boers, Grace Gaddis, Carly Gillota, Julie Haber, Samantha Ott, Rachel Puls, Claudia Roma

Career Center – Zoe Alberts, Bethany Dieckhoner, Elizabeth Salai, Joy Zellers

Medina – Grace Boston, Natalie Cheyney, Abigail Kaskey, Madeline King, Julianna Morgan, Isabelle Poling

Wadsworth – Erin Abshire