(Photo provided by Eddie Place) Kim Ferrell was named an honorary commissioner for the day by the Washington County Commissioners Thursday.

The Washington County Commissioners recognized March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month during its regular meeting Thursday.

“Individuals with developmental disabilities are valued members of our community who work, learn, volunteer and contribute in meaningful ways throughout Washington County,” said Washington County Commissioner Charlie Schilling.

The commissioners awarded Kim Ferrell as honorary commissioner for the day.

“Miss Kim was here last year and she really spoke very eloquently about county government and the things that we do and was really interested in learning,” said Schilling.

In other business, the commissioners paid the Devola Sewer Project retainage fee which totaled $437,587. Construction retainage is a percentage of withheld funds until substantial completion of a project is completed.

During last week’s meeting, Washington County Engineer Roger Wright explained the Devola Sewer Project contractor, RDR Utility Services Group, requested substantial completion.

Wright said during a previous meeting the revised code does allow them to release some of the retainage since the project had reached substantial completion.

“The engineer explained this is 75% of the retainage on that project,” said Schilling.

The commissioners approved a letter of support for a 2027-2028 Capital Funding Request for Akron Children’s Belpre Regional Health Center. The letter of support will be directed to the office of Rep. Kevin Ritter and Senator Brian Chavez.

In the letter of support, Akron’s Children’s Hospital plans to open a pediatric health center and offer primary care, subspecialty, and rehabilitative healthcare for children and adolescents.

The commissioners also approved the letter of support for Memorial Health System’s Congressionally Directed Spending request.The support letter will go to Congressman Michael Rulli.

The request will be to expand the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at the Marietta campus.

“These are all entities within the county that we want to support,” said Schilling. “I want to express a sincere appreciation for Memorial Health Systems.”

He said Memorial Health Systems and Akron’s Children’s are driving healthcare for the area in a positive way.

Washington County Sheriff Mark Warden said he partnered with sheriffs in Morgan, Meigs, Athens, Noble, and Monroe counties to better utilize their resources.

“To serve the citizens better, I can take manpower and multiply it at no cost to you and vice versa,” said Warden.

He said all the sheriffs are working together to take narcotics off the streets and work towards ending generational recidivism.

“When you look at that type of endeavor … seismic change is going to change the trajectory of that jail,” he said. “We’re bringing in reentry programs, we’re bringing in rehab type facilities, which have never really been a priority at the jail.”

Warden said when they all work together, they can make the “seismic changes” he envisions into a reality.