Ravenna – On April 12, the Portage County Commissioners hosted an Open House followed by an evening meeting. The event was held to commemorate National County Government Month. Several county offices and departments participated. The Woodlands at Robinson (county nursing home) offered free blood pressure checks. The Dog Warden brought dogs to be adpoted at a discounted fee. Portage County Emergency Management brought state of the art equipment to show the public how the county responsds to various emergencies. Other departments participated by providing information about their services, including Job and Family Services which assists families and children with various needs. Information was also available from Auditor, Janet Esposito. County Recorder, Bonnie Howe said, “ this is a great opportunity to meet the people that we serve. It is important to bring the government to the people.”
This event is the first of its kind. The goal was to highlight county services and make elected officials available during the evening for those who may not be available during the day. The Board of Commissioners typically meets twice per week from 9:30 am until 3:00. The 6:30 pm meeting drew a much bigger crowd than usual. Residents from throughout the county attended.