By Eamon Baird
TROY — Chris Englert, assistant prosecuting attorney for Miami County, requested to finalize representation in the case of Rob England vs. 116 West Main LLC during the Board of Miami County Commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, Nov. 30.
The petition request is for Jeffrey A. Strankunas and Ryan Spitzer of the law firm Isaac Wiles & Burkholder LLC to act as special prosecutors and provide necessary legal services related to Miami County Department of Development Chief Building Official Rob England for his interests in the matters relating to Rob England vs. 116 West Main LLC. This case is regarding the building at 112-118 W. Main St., Troy, also known as the Tavern Building.
“We unfortunately have a conflict that prevents both Prosecutor Kendall, myself, and every other assistant prosecutor in the Miami County Prosecutor’s office from representing Rob England in these cases, as well as Commissioner Westfall and Development Director Osgood,” Englert said. “As a result, we’ve had to seek prosecutors from the private sector.”
Englert added that the contract amount would be at most $100,000 for the attorney services, to which Commissioner Greg Simmons asked a question.
“When you came before the board last week, the ones that were selected were going to be no cost to the county. This here is a cost,” Simmons said.
Englert stated that representation for England is more involved, as there are currently three pending cases in the common pleas court and a minimum of two cases in the court of appeals, which is an excessive load for a prosecutor’s office.
“This firm is highly recommended. We’ve worked with both attorneys before, and that’s why they were selected,” Englert said.
Commissioners Ted Mercer and Simmons authorized the petition. Commissioner Wade Westfall was absent from the meeting.
In other business, the commissioners approved or authorized the following agenda items:
• The IT department to purchase a Buffalo TeraStation 5020 Series network storage unit and replace a nine-year-old unit that houses File Transfer Protocol (FTP) files from Insight Public Sector of Chandler, Arizona. The total cost is, at most, $3,720.54. The data board recommended approval of said purchase on Nov. 22, 2023.
• The IT Department to purchase network switches with a three-year subscription for the county’s various facilities, MNJ Technologies of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. The switch update will allow devices to replace a Cisco router for $76,665. The data board recommended the approval on Nov. 22, 2023.
• A contract with McBride Dale Clarion (MDC), of Cincinnati, for the 2023 Miami County comprehensive plan update recommended by the department of development on Sept. 21, 2023.
• To authorize the use of “standard allowance” American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for a one-time financial contribution to the capital improvement projects fund. The construction cost for the county’s new building, the Miami County Commerce Center (aka One Stop Shop) consisting of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles-Deputy Registrar License Agency, Auto Title Department, Ohio State Patrol, and Drivers Exam Station for $811,702,, and the Miami County Fairground grandstand renovation project for $2,700,000 for the use of county residents and visitors.
• To sign an employee requisition for a new full-time telecommunicator for the Communication Center at a pay rate of $22.24 due to the departure of Mallory Rittershausen.
The commissioners also announced they planned to participate in the Downtown Piqua Holiday Parade on Saturday, Dec. 2.
