Holmes County Sheriff Secures $40,550.17 Federal Grant to Bolster Traffic Safety in Amish Country

Holmes County Sheriff Timothy W. Zimmerly announced the Sheriff’s Office has been awarded $40,550.17 in federal traffic safety funding through the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The funding will support two key enforcement programs: a Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) and Impaired Driving Enforcement. In Holmes County, where Amish buggies share roads with motor vehicles and farm equipment, traffic safety is an ongoing concern.

The grant is intended to help reduce risks in these mixed-traffic settings Specific allocations (e.g. equipment, overtime, public campaigns) were identified in the Facebook announcement: 350 hours of overtime are planned under STEP enforcement. The timing comes as fall tourism peaks, bringing more vehicles onto routes like State Route 39 and others running through Amish Country.

Safer roads support both community welfare and visitor experience. Holmes County residents may see more enforcement presence and targeted safety operations in coming weeks. Sheriff Zimmerly’s move strengthens the partnership between federal, state, and local authorities to address roadway hazards proactively.