by Dan Starcher | Apr 30, 2025 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO, April 30, 2025 ─ Beginning May 1, 2025, the Wayne County Commissioners will no longer offer weekly sessions via Zoom and move back to in-person gatherings. This decision is part of an effort to foster more direct, face-to-face interaction between the commissioners and the public, allowing for richer dialogue, more transparent communication, and a stronger sense of community involvement.
While virtual sessions provided convenience and accessibility during challenging times, returning to in-person meetings encourages active participation, builds trust, and creates a collaborative environment where constituents can more easily voice their concerns and ideas. Attendees are encouraged to review the meeting schedules and times, as times are subject to change.
by Dan Starcher | Apr 30, 2025 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO, April 30, 2025 ─ The Wayne County Emergency Management Agency, in partnership with Wooster Community Hospital, Wooster Division of Fire, and Wayne County Hazmat, will conduct a planned emergency response training exercise on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
The training exercise will simulate a hazardous materials incident and involve emergency response activity near Akron Road and Geyers Chapel Road in the northeastern industrial area of Wooster and at Wooster Community Hospital.
During this time, the public may see emergency vehicles and personnel in protective equipment at both sites.
This will be only a training exercise, not an actual emergency.
This exercise allows local first responders and hospital staff to practice coordinated emergency procedures and enhance their preparedness for real-world hazardous materials incidents.
For more information, contact the Wayne County Emergency Management Agency at 330-262-9817 or ema@wcemaoh.org.
by Dan Starcher | Jan 31, 2025 | Blog
OFFICE SERVICES COORDINATOR (Part-Time)
Are you organized and enjoy assisting with office workflow? This part-time position for the Wayne County Commissioners will work 25 hours per week (Mon-Fri) and offers 11 paid holidays per year, ample sick leave, and vacation leave (unused leave rolls over to the following year.) To see a complete list of responsibilities and qualifications and to apply, visit https://www.wayneohio.org/employment-opportunities/ Questions? Call (330) 287-5497. The deadline to apply is 2/10/25.
by Dan Starcher | Jan 31, 2025 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO, January 31, 2025 ─ The Wayne County Commissioners have offered Jerry R. Winkler the Director of the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) position. Winkler has accepted the offer and will begin February 18, 2025.
Winkler has more than three decades of experience as a first responder in emergency preparedness, disaster planning, grant writing, and budgeting. He is a State of Ohio certified Firefighter II, a Paramedic, and a Fire and Emergency Services Instructor II.
Winkler attended Ohio University, the University of Akron, and Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa. In 2015, he completed the Executive Fire Officer Program, a Master’s Degree-level course of study, at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
During his career, Winkler has developed cross-disciplined relationships with local and state EMAs, law enforcement, emergency medical services, and has served on a state-wide Emergency Response Planning Committee. In addition to being a proven leader in public service, Winker is an accomplished writer, small business owner, realtor, and real estate investor.
by Dan Starcher | Sep 19, 2024 | Blog
WAYNE COUNTY, OH, Sep. 19, 2024 — A recent legislative change introduced by State Representative Scott Wiggam, with collaboration from Wayne County Clerk of Courts Tim Neal, has streamlined the title process for Ohio residents who purchase a vehicle outside the state.
When a buyer purchases a vehicle outside of Ohio, that vehicle must be inspected before a title can be issued from the Title Office. In many cases, the buyer will visit the Title Office with paperwork in hand, only to find out that an inspection is required, and they would have to provide a copy of the inspection matching the vehicle identification number (VIN). The inspection requires the buyer to visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) or a third-party provider, wait for an inspection, and then return to the Title Office to complete the titling process.
Wiggam and Neal recognized the need for change and introduced House Bill 373 of the 135th General Assembly, which takes effect in October. With its introduction, Ohio residents who purchased a vehicle outside the state can receive the inspection directly from the Title Office and eliminate the need for an additional trip to the BMV or a dealership that provides inspection services.
“When Tim and I brought this to Columbus and were discussing it, people asked why this hasn’t been done before,” Wiggam said. “This may seem like a small thing, but the small things take time, effort, and attention to detail. Bills like this lead to exceptional customer service from the government.”
Together, Wiggam and Neal reformed the system to enhance efficiency and transparency, ensuring buyers can focus on what truly matters: getting their vehicle titled quickly in one visit to the Title Office. However, it was no simple task.
At the heart of the process to get a bill passed is the Ohio General Assembly. It is comprised of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both chambers work collaboratively, but each has distinct roles and procedures. While the House is seen as the body closest to the people, reflecting their immediate concerns, the Senate employs a system of checks and balances to ensure the bill’s integrity.
“This is something we began in October 2023,” Wiggam said. “The Governor finally signed it in July of 2024, and this is something that didn’t have any opposition.”
A bill can originate from various sources—elected officials, advocacy groups, or concerned citizens. In this case, the idea was born out of a discussion between Wiggam and Neal, leading to Wiggam sponsoring the bill.
Neal, who, as clerk of Courts, oversees the Title Office, agreed that the bill is a much-needed improvement for buyers.
“In Wooster, the BMV is next to the title office, but you still had to leave and come back,” Neal said. “But in some places, you might have to drive a half hour away and then back to the Title Office. In Orrville, for example, the Title Office is inside City Hall, but the BMV is elsewhere. So you would go to City Hall and find out you had to go to the BMV and back to the Title Office again.”
Neal played an instrumental role in getting support from the Clerk of Courts Association and providing testimony for the bill.
“Once the bill originates from the House, it goes to the Senate, and they can make changes, and then it is discussed,” Neal said. “But once both sides agree, which can take a long time, it goes to the Governor.”
While it may seem like a long time, elected officials are used to putting in the time and effort it takes to pass a bill.
“There is a lot of horse trading,” Wiggam said. “If the bill fails at any point, you have to start from the beginning with the next General Assembly.”
Dan Starcher is the Public Communications Coordinator for Wayne County.
by Dan Starcher | Sep 5, 2024 | Blog
COLUMBUS, OHIO, Sept. 3, 2024 – The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting 15 people lost their lives in 15 traffic crashes during the Labor Day reporting period, which began Friday, August 30 at midnight and ended Monday, September 2 at 11:59 p.m. In those fatalities in which safety belts were available, seven were unbelted. Ohio’s safety belt law remains a secondary violation; however, troopers continued to have zero tolerance during the holiday reporting period when motorists were stopped for other violations and were found not wearing their safety belt. Throughout the reporting period, troopers issued more than 2,000 safety belt and child safety seat citations.
Additionally, six of the fatal crashes were OVI-related. Troopers also made 378 arrests for impaired driving and 50 for drug-related charges. The Patrol responded to 519 crashes and made 25,674 traffic contacts in total. Troopers also issued 930 citations for distracted driving and provided assistance to 1,829 motorists. A statewide breakdown of enforcement and crashes during the Labor Day reporting period can be found here.
Motorists are encouraged to call #677 to report impaired drivers or drug activity.
