The Fiscal Officer is an elected official and is independent of the township trustees, yet, by law, the clerk must work closely with the trustees. The Trustees have the legislative authority in the township and the Fiscal Officer must keep an accurate record of all township accounts and transactions. It is the responsibility of the fiscal office to comply strictly with the legal requirements set for the fiscal officer's duties, to establish and practice rules for efficient management of the fiscal office, and to follow good accounting practices in maintaining records and accounts.

The Ohio Revised Code states several required duties of the Fiscal Officer including, but not limited to: 1) keeping accurate record of the proceedings of the board of township trustee meetings; 2) keeping accurate records of all the accounts and transactions of the township trustees; 3) issuing all checks; and 4) preparing or processing payroll.

Each year the fiscal office must prepare an estimate of the revenues and expenditures for the next succeeding year and submit it to the county auditor. Once this is done, a resolution is passed by the trustees which formally adopts the budget as revised and approved by the county.

Funds are obtained from personal and property taxes, the local government fund, gasoline and motor vehicle taxes, motor vehicle permissive tax, motel permissive tax, fees, fines and assessments.

Vanessa Niekamp, Fiscal Officer

Vanessa Niekamp (sounds like “knee-camp”) grew up on the east side of Columbus, Ohio.

Vanessa has extensive government leadership experience. She has managed the state of Ohio's State Controlling Board, which authorizes adjustments to the state budget; has personally been responsible for a $1.3 billion dollar budget with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office; has collective bargaining experience with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services; and was previously the Executive Director of the Ohio Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors, whose mission is to protect consumers and advance the funeral industry statewide.

Vanessa is currently the Executive Director of the Pickerington Food Pantry and is also a member of the Pickerington Local School District Board of Education.

Vanessa has a Bachelor of Science in business administration and a Bachelor of Arts in jazz performance from Capital University; as well as an Associate degree in human resource management from Columbus State.  

Vanessa, her husband, and their two young sons live in the township where she is very involved in the community. She is a former President of the Board of Education, a former President of the Pickerington Lions Club, a member of the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce, a member of 100+ Women Who Care, and is the School Sector Representative for Tyler's Light, a drug education and awareness program.

Role of the Fiscal Officer: 

The Fiscal Officer is an elected official who serves a four-year term. Vanessa serves as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees and as Fiscal Officer of the Township, and these roles include numerous ministerial duties as a public official. The Fiscal Officer keeps an accurate account of the board's proceedings at all meetings and an exact record of all its financial accounts and transactions.

The Fiscal Officer is connected to the entire Board of Trustees as the office is not a decision making office but is an independent office of the Trustee Board that must work closely with each other. 

The Violet Township Fiscal Officer is responsible for ensuring that all legal and regular records in the Township are kept in accordance with provisions set forth in Section 507.01 of the Ohio Revised Code as well as directives issued by the Ohio State Auditor’s Office. The office is responsible for doing the annual budget and appropriations for the Township. The finances are computerized and are audited every two years by either an independent State Certified Auditor or by the State Auditor’s Office. The Fiscal Officer/Clerk works closely with the Board of Trustees, County Auditor, County Recorder, County Treasurer, and the County Engineer to help maintain the fiscal soundness of the Township. 

Other responsibilities of the Fiscal Officer include maintaining all records of the actions of the Board of Trustees such as their proceedings, budgeting, accounting, and payroll. The Fiscal Officer is also responsible for ensuring all the departments in the Township maintain adequate records necessary for regular audits.  

The Fiscal Officer is also in charge of the monies that are received and spent by the Township. The office is also responsible for certifying all purchases or sales done by the Township, such as legal ads, special meetings, and contracted work to be done in the Township. The Fiscal Officer is responsible for keeping the minutes of all the Trustee meetings. 


Ryan Jenkins, Assistant Fiscal Officer

Ryan Jenkins was appointed Assistant Fiscal Officer on April 1, 2020.  Ryan also serves as Pickerington Schools' Chief Financial Officer.

Ryan has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from The Ohio State University.

Ryan lives in the township with his wife and two sons.

Maartje Eagle, Administrative Assistant

You can contact the Fiscal office by calling 614.575.5556.