By Eamon Baird
TROY — The Miami County Commissioners acknowledged the 2025 selective traffic enforcement program (STEP) and impaired driving enforcement program (IDEP) grant awards during their Tuesday, Sept. 17, meeting.
The STEP grant award of $45,046.91, and IDEP award of $42,546.91 will provide for overtime and benefits for deputies working at certain time-periods on various county roads and state routes throughout Miami County, frequently corresponding with holidays when there is usually an increase in traffic crashes and alcohol consumption.
The extra patrol will be utilized to deter poor driving habits, remove impaired drivers, and strictly enforce Ohio’s seat belt statutes.
Miami County Sheriff Dave Duchak addressed the commissioners at the meeting and explained how the grant works.
“This is the 19th year we’ve been awarded that grant,” he said. “It follows the deputies’ salary, so they get reimbursed dollar for dollar.”
The commissioners also authorized several purchases for the information technology (IT) department:
• A quote from MNJ Technologies Inc., of Buffalo Grove, Illinois to purchase six Palo Alto firewalls associated for each county campus. These firewalls safeguard the internal network and data from unauthorized external access and potential cyber threats. The total cost for the firewalls is $155,220.
• A quote from MNJ for the purchase of 12 Liebert GXT5 36V and one Liebert GXT4 48V uninterruptable power supply (UPS) kit, and one Liebert replacement battery kit for a total cost of $5,200.
In other business, the commissioners authorized or acknowledged the following resolutions:
• To sign a modification to a contract with Revive Vending LLC, of Piqua, to provide additional vending machines at the Miami County Garage, Safety Building, and the Incarceration Facility. There is no cost to the county associated with this agreement.
• To sign an amendment to a subgrant agreement with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services as requested by the juvenile court. Said agreement updates the Federal Award Identification Numbers (FAIN) and adds prevention services missing from the current agreement.
• To sign an “Agreement for Professional Services” with Justice Benefits Inc. (JBI), of Dallas, Texas, as requested by the juvenile court. JBI is a private company that assists courts in obtaining federal reimbursement through Title IV-E funds. The total cost of this one-year agreement is $45,000.
At the end of the meeting, the commissioners announced they will be attending the Piqua Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Steak Fry and Auction at Lloyd Fry’s Farm on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 5 p.m.
Commissioner Ted Mercer did not attend the meeting.
