Medina County Commissioners: Duties, Budgets, and Meetings

The Medina County Commissioners are a three-member elected board that acts as the county’s legislative and taxing authority, overseeing county buildings, budgets, contracts, sewer and water districts, land decisions, and appointments to other county boards. As of 2026 the seats are held by Aaron M. Harrison, Colleen M. Swedyk, and Stephen D. Hambley, and the board meets every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 144 North Broadway Street in Medina.¹

Who Serves and How They’re Elected

Ohio law requires every county to have a three-member board of commissioners elected to staggered four-year terms.² In Medina County each commissioner is elected county-wide rather than by district. Under Ohio Revised Code Section 305.01, one seat comes up on one four-year cycle and the other two seats come up together on a separate cycle, so the entire board never turns over at once.

The 2026 cycle includes a contested commissioner race, with the primary election scheduled for May 5, 2026.¹

What the Board Controls

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 307 gives the commissioners broad authority over county property and operations. They are responsible for providing and maintaining the courthouse, jail, county offices, and other public buildings, and for supplying county offices with the equipment, stationery, and resources they need to function.³ The board can also acquire, sell, or lease land for public purposes, which is how the county expands facilities or picks up property for new infrastructure.

Under Chapter 6103 of the Revised Code, the board also builds, maintains, and operates water supply and sanitary sewer systems within county sewer districts.⁴

Contracts Over $50,000

When the county spends money on purchases, construction, or leases exceeding $50,000, the board must run a competitive bidding process. Notice is published in a local newspaper for at least two consecutive weeks before bids open, describing the contract, identifying where plans and specifications can be reviewed, and stating when and where bids will be accepted.⁵ The board can also post the notice on the county website and reduce newspaper publication to a single notice, as long as that notice directs readers to the web posting at least two weeks before the bid deadline.

Annexation Petitions

When landowners or residents petition to annex unincorporated territory into a nearby city or village, the commissioners’ role depends on the type of annexation. For petitions filed by property owners under expedited procedures, the board’s job is mostly procedural, confirming that the paperwork meets statutory requirements. For petitions filed by resident freeholders, the board holds a formal public hearing and evaluates whether the petition has enough valid signatures, whether the territory borders the municipality, and whether the annexation would leave behind an unreasonably large pocket of unincorporated land. If all statutory conditions are met, the board must approve the petition; if they are not, it must deny.⁶

Budgets, Levies, and Taxing Authority

Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5705 designates the board of county commissioners as the county’s taxing authority.⁷ At the start of each fiscal year the board passes an appropriation measure that breaks spending into categories for each office and department, with personal services itemized separately. If the annual budget is not ready in time, the board can pass a temporary appropriation to cover routine expenses through April 1.⁸

When existing tax revenue falls short, the commissioners can put a levy on the ballot. Doing so requires a two-thirds vote of the board, and the resolution must be certified to the board of elections at least 90 days before the election. The resolution states the proposed rate increase, its purpose, and how many years it will last.⁹ Levies commonly fund human services, emergency response, and sewer infrastructure.

Appointments to Other Boards

The commissioners extend their reach through appointments. The Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities is made up of seven volunteer members appointed by the commissioners and the Probate Judge, drawn from varied professional backgrounds and including community leaders and family members of individuals with developmental disabilities.¹⁰ All three commissioners also hold appointments to the County Planning Commission, and Commissioner Swedyk serves on the Mental Health and Recovery Board.¹

Attending a Meeting

Regular meetings are held every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. at the County Administration Building, 144 North Broadway Street.¹ They are governed by Ohio’s open meetings law, which declares all meetings of a public body open to the public at all times and requires members to be physically present to vote or count toward a quorum.¹¹

The board can hold an executive session, meaning a closed-door discussion, only after a majority of a quorum votes by roll call to do so. Executive sessions are limited to specific topics: personnel matters like hiring or discipline, property transactions, pending or imminent litigation, labor negotiations, security arrangements, and information that must stay confidential under state or federal law. No votes or final decisions can happen in executive session.¹¹ For special meetings outside the regular Tuesday schedule, at least 24 hours’ advance notice must go to news media that have requested notification, with a narrow exception for genuine emergencies.

Agendas and Video

Meeting agendas and minutes are posted on the county website and organized by year.¹² Checking the agenda beforehand is the most practical way to know which resolutions will come up. For anyone who cannot attend in person, the county maintains a YouTube channel with archived video of past meetings.¹³

Public Comment

Most commissioner meetings include a public comment period. The specific procedures, including whether you need to sign up in advance, how long you can speak, and what topics are permitted, are set by the board’s own rules and can change, so check the agenda or call the office ahead of time if you plan to speak.

Records and Contacting the Office

Ohio’s Public Records Act gives any person the right to inspect and receive copies of records maintained by the county. You do not have to explain who you are or why you want the records; the law specifically prohibits a public office from requiring you to disclose your identity or intended use as a condition of access. Records must be made available promptly during regular business hours, and copies are provided at cost.¹⁴

The commissioners’ office only maintains records for its own operations, so requests for other departments or for court records should go directly to the relevant office.¹⁵

The office is at 144 North Broadway Street, Room 201, Medina, OH 44256. Phone inquiries go to 330-722-9208, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.¹³ An online contact form is also available; when using it, specify which department your inquiry relates to, because messages are routed based on that information.¹⁵

1
Medina County, Ohio. Medina County Commissioners – Board Members
2
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 305.01 – Board of County Commissioners
3
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code Chapter 307 – Board of County Commissioners – Powers
4
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 6103.03 – Water Supply Facilities
5
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 307.87 – Notice of Competitive Bidding
6
Ohio Secretary of State. Annexation and Boundary Adjustments
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Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 5705.01 – Tax Levy Law Definitions
8
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 5705.38 – Annual Appropriation Measures
9
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 5705.19 – Tax Levy Resolution
10
Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities. The Board
11
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 121.22 – Public Meetings – Exceptions
12
Medina County, Ohio. Meeting Agendas
13
Medina County, Ohio. County Commissioners
14
Ohio Legislative Service Commission. Ohio Revised Code 149.43 – Availability of Public Records
15
Medina County, Ohio. Contact Us