On a 2-1 vote, the Hancock County Commission approved the 1st step in dissolving the Hancock County Park Board. With Commissioners Eron Chek and Paul Cowey voting in the affirmative, Commissioner Tom Ogden voted against the dissolution. State Code requires two vote separate votes to dissolve the Board with the second vote being taken at the February 26 meeting.
One-half of the money collected from the Hotel/Motel tax goes to the Park Board for administration and up-keep of the County’s 4 parks. That amounts to $75,000.00 of the $150,000.00 collected from the County’s hotels, motels and Airbnb facilities. If the Park Board is dissolved those funds would revert to the Commissioner’s General Fund.
The move to dissolve the Board comes just months after the Commission reorganized the composition of the Board from five members to seven. On August 18, 2025 Hometown News ran a story announcing the Commission was seeking to expand the Park Board to 7 members and approved advertising for those members. Commissioner Tommy Ogden has just been appointed as the Commissioner to serve as a non-voting member on the Board,
A Facebook post from the Board said they were working on next year’s calendar of events.
Commission President Eron Chek noted that the events can still be held at the Parks and a two-sheet application is available to request use of the Parks. Those requesting the Parks will go through the Commission and the Commission will take responsibility for cutting the grass.
Ogden said that he feels it’s important to keep the newly reorganized Board together as they are working on ideas for events. With the newly reorganized Board only taking office in December, there has not been one summer season to see the Board’s effectiveness.
In other business, the Commission:
**Approved Memo of Understanding for New Cumberland, Chester and Weirton for the use of DEP, REAP or DLAP funds;
**Agreed to advertise a Request for Proposal for construction of a garage at the Hancock County Health Dept.;
**Accepted Dog Warden/Humane Officer Bob Notni’s resignation effective Feb. 20, 2026 and agreed to advertise for a new Dog Warden/Humane Officer;
**Reappointed Del Wright to the Hancock County Public Service District;
**Hired Lee Ann Hawthorne as a part-time assistant in the Commissioners’ Office;
**Hired Jeff McIntyre as a security/bailiff;
**Agreed to pay Sheena Connors for her accrued vacation and personal days totaling 178 hours;
**Hired Karissa Napier as tax deputy;
**Heard from Tamara Pettit on the Commissioners expressing their support for the Guaranteed Workforce Rapid Response Team coming to Hancock County to work with laid off employees in the Hancock County School system;
