Commissioners pay respect to Fawley family; vote to reduce rate of property tax

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Highland County Commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels offered their thoughts and prayers to the family of longtime Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley during their Tuesday, Dec. 2 board meeting.

Fawley passed away Saturday, Nov. 29. He was 79. He had served as county auditor for 32 years, having most recently been elected in November 2018 for his eighth term in office. He retired after his eighth term in office. He was a longtime leader and adviser within the Highland County Republican Party.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to Bill's family," Britton said, "for Dianne, Will and the entire family."

In other business, commissioners voted, 3-0, to approve Resolution No. 25-293, to "reduce the rate of property tax within the 10-mill limitation for Tax Year 2025."

"We are allowed by law to reduce our collections a little – not a lot," Daniels said. "We did this last year; and by law, we are allowed to do it a second year."

"We try to help people where we can," Roades said. "This helps a little."
    
• Commissioners also received and opened three bids for a roof replacement at the Because He Lives Food Pantry in Lynchburg.

The three bids ranged from $53,388 to $69,199.13 to $77,700. The bids will be reviewed, and one is expected to be awarded next week.

• At 9:20 a.m., commissioners voted, 3-0, to enter into an executive session with Highland County Job & Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff and Assistant Director Gene Myers to discuss employee compensation.

Prior to the executive session, Roades commended Myers for driving 80 miles on a snowy morning in order to attend the meeting.

• Commissioners also held a bid opening for the Records Center relocation and high-density shelving.

In addition to Resolution No. 25-293, commissioners also approved the following resolutions:

• Res. No. 25-285 Commissioners authorize a modification within Veterans Services budget in the amount of $3,600 from Health Insurance to Employee Salary.

• Res. No. 25-286 Commissioners authorize a modification within Veterans Services budget in the amount of $52.20 from Health Insurance to Medicare.

• Res. No. 25-287 Commissioners authorize a modification within Veterans Services budget in the amount of $5,700 from Health Insurance and Indigent Burials to Relief.

• Res. No. 25-288 Commissioners authorize a modification within Veterans Services budget in the amount of $5,500 from Travel, Equipment & Repair, and VA Transportation to Outreach.

• Res. No. 25-289 Commissioners authorize a modification within Auditor budget in the amount of $1,550 from Contracts & Services to Supplies and Other Expense.

• Res. No. 25-290 Commissioners authorize Melissa Wheaton from the Highland County Family Advocacy Center as an authorized credit card user.

• Res. No. 25-291 Commissioners authorize an additional appropriation to the Sheriff budget in the amount of $4,299.36 to Salaries – Employees.

• Res. No. 25-292 Commissioners authorize a modification within Court of Appeals budget in the amount of $217.37 from Equipment to Supplies.

Note: The following resolutions were all from Highland County Auditor Alex Butler's office. As explained by Daniels, "There were some issues that came out in the management letter from a recent audit."

Britton commended Butler for "stepping up and taking care of these issues."

• Res. No. 25-294 Commissioners approve the Highland County Auditor the authority to adopt a Policy on Blanket Certificates, Blanket Purchase Orders, and Super Blanket Purchase Orders, adopted pursuant to ORC 5705.41(D).

• Res. No. 25-295 Commissioners approve the Highland County Auditor, the authority to adopt a Policy on Cash Handling and Change Drawer Best Practices.

• Res. No. 25-296 Commissioners approve the Highland County Auditor, the authority to adopt a policy for Electronic Deposits.

• Res. No. 25-297 Commissioners approve the Highland County Auditor the authority to adopt a policy for the counties Pay-In Process, adopted pursuant to ORC 9.38.

• Res. No. 25-298 Commissioners approve the Highland County Auditor the authority to adopt a policy for Vendor ACH Payment Approval Process.

• Res. No. 25-299 Commissioners grant authorization for the listed “Then and Now” purchase orders from December 2, 2025, and the County Auditor is authorized to issue warrants for their payment.

• Res. No. 25-300 Commissioners approve a budget modification within County Miscellaneous in the amount of $1,200, from Group and Liability to Examination.