There are three members of the Board of Commissioners. They are elected by the residents of the county to serve a four-year term. There are no specific qualifications that a commissioner must have to run for the office. In accordance to the Ohio Revised Code the job is to be part-time.

COMMISSIONERS’ DUTIES

• ADVERTISE & CONDUCT HEARINGS -The Board must advertise and conduct the hearings for the following: Budgets, Road & Bridge changes, Annexation, Watersheds, Taxes, Road Vacation, Block Grant, etc. This gives the residents an opportunity to learn about the project and also to input their opinion.
• ADVERTISE & ACCEPT BIDS - The Board must advertise and accept bids for the following: Equipment, Vehicles, Insurance, Materials, Fuel, Projects, Major Repair of Buildings, Paving, etc.
• SELECT CITIZENS FOR APPOINTMENTS - The Board must select residents of our county to the following boards: Kent State University-Tuscarawas Campus, Board of Developmental Disabilities, Commission on Ageing, Tuscarawas County Public Library, Regional Planning, Public Defenders, Multi-County Juvenile, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services, Recycling & Litter Prevention, Housing Authority, Multi-County Solid Waste District, Self-Help, Emergency Management, Local Emergency Planning Committee, and Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Tuscarawas County Law Library Resource Board.
• MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS - The Board is responsible for maintaining the following public buildings: Court House, County Office Building, Job & Family Services,  Jail, Board of Education, Health Department, and various parking lots owned by the County.
• Insures approximately fifty (50) structures, including the fairgrounds and jail.
• Insures all county owned vehicles.
• Lobbies in Columbus and Washington DC concerning legislation, grants, regulations, etc. that affect our county.
• Cooperates with townships, cities, villages and county office holders in areas of mutual concern.
• Cooperates with leaders in agriculture, business, labor, industry, education, etc. in attracting more job opportunities for residents of our county.
• Cooperates with other counties on mutual concerns, such as the Multi-County Solid Waste Disposal Agency.
• Serves on several boards including: Data, Revision, Multi-County Juvenile Attention System, Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Counties Solid Waste District, Ohio Mid-Eastern Governments Association, Harcatus, Children & Family First Council, Recycling & Litter Prevention, Emergency Management Agency, Local Emergency Planning Committee. County Commissioners Association of Ohio and the National Association of Counties.
• Must conform to the Ohio Revised Code Rules and Regulations.
• Obligates and approves a balanced budget for the County.

OFFICES DIRECTLY UNDER THE COMMISSIONERS

Community & Economic Development
Department of Job & Family Services
Dog Pound
Homeland Security & Emergency Management Agency
Flood Plain Coordinator
Maintenance Department
Metropolitan Sewer District
Park Department
Water Department