COSHOCTON − Coshocton County Sheriff Chris Walters and Coshocton County Engineer Josh Kempf are in a dispute over the need for a deputy to oversee weights and measures in Coshocton County.
In an announcement on Oct. 13, Walters said he chose to abolish the position on Sept. 4, with the last effective day being Oct. 4.
Neither Walters or Kempf immediately return calls to the Tribune seeking comments.
“I strongly believe that having another deputy in the road division to handle calls and provide additional service and protection is more important than the weight and measurement program,” Walters said in the statement.
However, Walters said in the announcement that he was informed Kempf had sought legal advice regarding the position in reference to Ohio Revised Code section 5577.13.
The section states that in counties with more than 40 miles or more of improved intercounty or state highways, the sheriff shall detail one or more deputies for enforcing code sections regarding commercial vehicle weight and size limits on such roads. Coshocton County has more than 200 miles of county roads.
Walters said in the announcement it was his understanding a mandamus action could be filed, which would require a court appearance and a judge could issue a court order to reinstate the position.
Walters then spoke with legal representation and the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association on the matter.
“I have concluded that I do not wish to spend tens of thousands of tax (payer) dollars to fight in court what the Ohio Revised Code already specifies in reference to this position that was already created before my term, to end with a judge ordering it to be returned,” Walters wrote in the statement.
Walters also said, according to the sheriff’s association, 70 of Ohio’s 88 counties do not have a weights and measures position. When asked why, he was told either the sheriff or county engineer have not pushed for the position. In Coshocton County, Walters said in the announcement, the push was coming from the engineer’s office.
The program was installed in 2024 by then-Sheriff James Crawford and then-Coshocton County Engineer Fred Wachtel. Walters defeated Crawford in the spring Republican primary that year for sheriff while Wachtel retired in July.
According to a Tribune article at the time, Dep. Chris Johnson was assigned the position with Johnson’s salary, vehicle and equipment being paid for by the engineer’s office. The equipment was $155,000 and Johnson’s salary was $26,000 a quarter, including benefits.
Focus of the program was to enforce gross overweight violations and axle weight discrepancies of commercial vehicles traveling through Coshocton County. Wachtel said at the time enforcement was in the best interest of the public to protect the condition of roads and bridges. A then closed bridge on County Road 106 in Linton Township appeared to have been damaged by an overloaded truck, Wachtel stated.
However, most commentors on the Coshocton County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page where the statement was posted seem to support Walters with several calling the position a waste of money.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton County Sheriff Walters pulls deputy from weights and measures position
Reporting by Leonard L. Hayhurst, Coshocton Tribune / Coshocton Tribune
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