LISBON — Columbiana County Commissioner Tim Ginter recognized the service of commissioners of the past and said he’s excited to serve with the commissioners now and serve the people of the county.

The new commissioner attended his first meeting of the three-member board Wednesday, saying “I’m in the saddle now and testing the horse to see what the terrain is like.”

The commissioners reorganized for the year, with Commissioner Mike Halleck remaining president and Commissioner Roy Paparodis named vice president. Former commissioner Tim Weigle, who retired when his term ended Jan. 1, attended the meeting.

Halleck thanked him again for his service and welcomed Ginter.

“He comes with a lot of knowledge and experience. He will be an asset,” Halleck said.

County Auditor Nancy Gause Milliken handled the beginning of the reorganization meeting, then turned over control to Halleck. Callie Sowards was renamed the clerk and Beth Duvall was renamed the assistant clerk. Weekly meetings will remain at 9 a.m. Wednesdays.

The list of 35 committee appointments for commissioners was approved with a few changes due to Weigle’s departure, including Paparodis serving on the 911 Technical Advisory Committee, the Solid Waste policy committee and the Regional Transportation Improvement Project committee. Ginter will serve on the District XI Area Office on Aging, District Advisory Council for the county health district, the Elkton Water and Sewer Board, Multi-County Juvenile Attention System Executive Board, Ohio Public Works Committee, Family and Children First Council and welfare advisory board.

Halleck was authorized to continue to negotiate and sign regarding all matters relating to gas and oil issues, bookkeepers were authorized to transfer within general funds and commissioners approved a resolution to exempt purchase orders of $1,000 or less from the prior certification requirement.

In the regular meeting Wednesday, commissioners accepted all bids for various types of slag, gravel, limestone, salt and ice control materials for this year at the recommendation of the county engineer, approved Halleck, Ginter, Paparodis, county Engineer Bert Dawson, Shane Patrone, Paul Lease, Lance Willard and Penny Traina as Columbiana County members of the Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, with Paparodis serving on the executive board, reappointed Traina, Dawson and Herold to the Columbiana County Transportation Improvement District Board, appointed Ginter as a trustee of the MCJAS and named Arthur Conser of Columbiana as the apiary instructor for $2,500.

Commissioners approved a master license and service agreement with HomeWAV, LLC for jail phones and other equipment and adopted the county cafeteria plan for employee for 2025 related to health insurance.

The commissioners also approved several routine resolutions granting county Department of Job and Family Services Director Rachel Ketterman authority for transferring funds.

Commissioners also gave permission for DJFS to salvage a 2013 Chevy Equinox which has repairs that would significantly exceed the value, requesting the county auditor to certify it.

The next meeting of commissioners will be 9 a.m. Jan. 15, which will include the second of two required public hearings regarding the 1 percent sales tax, which commissioners intend to put back on the ballot.