POMEROY — Meigs County Commissioners have seen a dramatic increase this year in the cost of autopsies performed in Montgomery County, and must find at least $6,800 to make up for a budget shortfall in that line item.

Meeting Thursday, commissioners tabled a request for an additional $6,755 for the cost of autopsies in their budget. Commissioners said the county has spent $28,200 so far this year on autopsies and transportation costs, and the budget has fallen short for those expenses.

Health Commissioner and Coroner’s Investigator Larry Marshall said the cost of an autopsy is $1,200, not including the cost of transportation to and from Dayton. Funeral homes provide that transportation, and bill the county for the cost, Marshall said.

So far this year, the county has ordered and paid for 14 autopsies, at a total cost of $16,800. Marshall said Hunter uses the Dayton facility because, within reasonable geographic distance, it is the best forensic program for the county’s purposes.

There have been three homicides in Meigs County in 2009, all of which required autopsies. An autopsy was also performed on the body of a prisoner who died in the Meigs County Jail after an apparent suicide. Another was performed recently on the body of a man whose body was found in his home in Middleport several days after his death.

Marshall said Hunter makes the decision on when an autopsy is performed, but said there are certain circumstances which almost always warrant one. For example, an autopsy is ordered in the deaths of all children, apparent suicides and homicides, and in cases where the coroner’s office is uncertain as to the manner of a death.

Other business

Dave Glass of the Shade River State Forest in Olive Township met with commissioners to present a check for $22,622 for timber sales there. The county, township and the Eastern Local School District all share revenue from the sale: $5,655 to the county and township, and $11,311 for the school district, this year.

Total sales were $834,000 from timber sales in Ohio state forests, like Shade River. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry manages more than $185,000 acres of state forest, and state foresters conduct timber harvest to improve the overall health and diversity of the forests. Such sales contribute to the recreational opportunities, soil and water conservation and wildlife habitat.

Glass told commissioners the local governments can expect greater revenue in a year, due to a large sale just finalized.

Dog Warden Tom Proffitt met with commissioners to discuss a grant application he plans to file through the Petco Foundation for a dog spay and neuter program.

In other business, comissioners also:

• Appointed Chris Shank, director of the Department of Job and Family Services, as chairman for Meigs County’s Complete Count Committee” for the 2010 census.

• Authorized Shank to join the Ohio Child Support Enforcement Agencies Directors Association, at a cost of $2,125.

• Referred an animal claim to the prosecuting attorney for investigation and possible criminal prosecution.

• Scheduled next week’s meeting for 10 a.m. Wednesday, due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday.

• Recessed this week’s meeting until 10 a.m. Monday, to allow for the approval of bills.

Present were Commissioners Mick Davenport, Thomas Anderson and Michael Bartrum, and Clerk Gloria Kloes.