PICKAWAY COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONTACT INFORMATION
139 West Franklin Street
Circleville, OH 43113
P: (740) 474-6093
F: (740) 474-8988
Download Covid-19 Planning And Response Statement
STATEMENT FROM THE PICKAWAY COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REGARDING COVID-19 PLANNING AND RESPONSE
Pickaway County has been preparing for months for the potential spread of COVID-19 and is carrying out previously adopted response plans developed by the Pickaway County General Health (PCGHD), the Pickaway County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), and the Board of Commissioners. These entities are meeting daily and coordinating with all relevant authorities at the federal, state, and local level, to ensure that Pickaway County is responding to COVID-19 in a manner which protects the health of our residents while continuing to fulfill our governmental responsibilities. The Board of Commissioners is encouraged by the work done thus far and wishes to make the public, and our partners in local government, aware of certain other actions being taken.
Consistent with Governor DeWine’s guidance to date, Pickaway County government offices remain open for business, and essential government services will continue to be provided. That said, each individual elected office holder has the discretion to alter or limit hours of operation, and staffing levels, as they see fit. For those employees who can effectively work from home, the county’s Information Technology (IT) has taken steps to allow that to occur. Existing leave policies remain in effect, and appointing authorities may approve the use of comp time, sick leave, vacation, and/or unpaid leave as they deem appropriate. The county’s maintenance department is increasing the cleaning services provided in every county building to help combat the potential spread of the virus. A sign-in sheet has been placed at the security desk of the courthouse so that we can better determine whether visitors have come into contact with COVID-19. Non-essential travel by county employees is discouraged.
While county offices remain open, we do encourage residents to defer non-essential visits to county offices whenever possible. Each office has an online presence and can conduct substantial business by telephone and e-mail. If a visit is necessary, however, we are working to keep visitors, and county employees, safe. In addition to steps described above, everyone should follow the protocols for handwashing and minimizing physical contact which can help prevent the spread of the virus.
The Board of Commissioners will be meeting with county office holders and department heads on Tuesday 3/17 to discuss other aspects of the county’s response to COVID-19 in greater detail. This situation is obviously changing rapidly, and the Board of Commissioners will continue to evaluate the county’s response as those changes occur. This is a difficult time, but we are confident that by working together, communicating openly and honestly, and remaining focused on effective prevention strategies, Pickaway County will meet this challenge.
For further questions regarding Pickaway County governmental operations during the COVID-19
situation, please contact County Administrator April Dengler at adengler@pickawaycountyohio.gov, Emergency
Management Director Darrin Flick, dflick@pickawaycountyohio.gov, and/or President of the Pickaway County Board of Commissioners Harold Henson, hhenson@pickawaycountyohio.gov. The Commissioners office may be reached by telephone at 740-474-6093.
Sincerely,
PICKAWAY COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Jay Wippel
Harold Henson
Gary Scherer
County Commissioners are the general administrative body of Pickaway County government. They are the county government taxing, budgeting, appropriating and purchasing authority. They also hold title to county property. Individual commissioners have no power to act independently. All formal and official actions must be taken by the Board of County Commissioners acting as a body by majority or unanimous vote.
Commissioners have other responsibilities including hearing and ruling on annexations, approving drainage improvements through the petition ditch process, establishing water and sewer districts, making improvements and providing for solid waste disposal. Commissioners also appoint department heads of offices for which they have responsibility and appoint members to a variety of boards and commissions.
The non-statutory duties and responsibilities of the commissioners are what make them different from other county elected officials. Our commissioners are active in promoting economic development initiatives, public health issues and infrastructure development. The county commissioners take a broad view of actions necessary to make Pickaway County a better place to live and work.
Commissioners:
Jay Wippel
Harold Henson
Gary Scherer
Administrator: April Dengler
Clerk: Angela Karr
Pickaway County
Board of County Commissioners
139 West Franklin Street
Circleville, Ohio 43113
Telephone: 740-474-6093 FAX: 740-474-8988
1-800-472-6093
w w w . p i c k a w a y . o r g
Gary Scherer
Gary has served as Commissioner since January 2021. He previously served as a Member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2012 to 2020.
He graduated from Circleville High School in 1972 and from THE Ohio State University in 1976. He is a Certified Public Accountant. Now retired, he was previously the co-founder of Harr & Scherer, CPAs. He also previously owned a franchise operating 75 Jackson Hewitt Tax Service offices throughout Ohio. Additionally, he served as President of Circleville Oil Company.
Gary and his high school sweetheart Debbie have been married since 1976. They live in Jackson Township. They are parents of three children and ten grandchildren, all of whom live in or near Pickaway County.
gscherer@pickawaycountyohio.gov
JAY H. WIPPEL
Commissioner Wippel grew up in Walnut Township, Pickaway County and graduated from Teays Valley High School and is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in Economics. He farms about 700 acres in Northern Pickaway County. Commissioner Wippel has been active in the community as a member of Westfall School Board, a member of the Berger Health Systems Board of Directors, and has served as an office director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
HAROLD HENSON
Harold “Champ” Henson is a lifelong resident of Pickaway County, a former Walnut Township Trustee, and a local farmer. After graduating from Teays Valley High School, Commissioner Henson attended the Ohio State University on a football scholarship. He played for the Buckeyes under Coach Woody Hayes and led the nation in scoring during his sophomore season in 1972. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th Round of the NFL Draft, and also played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Henson owns and operates Henson Family Farm Market which is widely known for its sweetcorn, as well as other fruits and vegetables. Henson resides in Walnut Township with his wife Karen, and has raised three children, Clayton, Colton, and Cassidy.
