Commission reports on AEP hearing, C-Mold

Highland County Commissioner Tom Horst presented an update this week on the ongoing public debate regarding recent billing practices by AEP.

During Wednesday's meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Horst reported on the May 1 hearing in Chillicothe for AEP and its customers.

Horst said a few customers spoke out against the recent increases by the utility company, including one small business owner and a member of the New Boston Village Council. Horst also spoke against the increases.

Horst said five representatives from AEP, including union employees, spoke in support of the company.

"The New Boston council member said his village expenses would go up $100,000 for the year," Horst said. "A private business owner, who has a wood-working business, said it would put him out of business."

Horst said he testified on behalf of Highland County. "I told them they need to stretch the increase out over a few years, and not hit us all at once."

Horst said hearings on the rate plan will continue in Columbus on May 14.

Horst also presented the following utility invoice comparisons for the county:

• In January 2011, the county's electric costs totaled $13,300.

• In January 2012, the cost was $20,575.

• In February 2011, it was $6,500.

• In February 2012, it was $19,000.

• In March 2011, it was $12,600.

• In March 2012, it was $17,100.

• In April 2011, it was $6,000.

• In April 2012, it was $12,000.

As previously reported by The Highland County Press, the city of Hillsboro has contracted with an outside law firm to represent the city in the proceedings with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, regarding the AEP rates. The city said it will pay $15,000 for the legal representation from the law firm Ice Miller, LLP.

Thus far, the county has opted not to seek outside legal counsel.

The Chillicothe Gazette reported this week that, "In the pending proposal, AEP rate increases would be implemented to cover a number of expenses, including fuel costs, that have not been passed on to customers in recent years. The rate increases would also help pay for infrastructure improvements customers have not had to pay for in the past 15 years."

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In other business, Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer approved a resolution to pledge financial support to the village of Greenfield for the rail line improvement project.

Commissioners approved $10,000 from the county general fund and $23,000 from the county engineer's budget for the project.

According to the commissioners, the Ohio Economic Development Association had preferred to fund the rail project with a 50/50 match and a total cost of approximately $5.1 million.

"If the EDA wants us to match that, it's out of the question," Wilkin said.

Wilkin said EDA may allow the project to be "scaled back."

Horst said that he has spoken with Peg Beekman, who is a grant writer for Greenfield, Hillsboro and Highland County, and that Beekman said the EDA is considering a 70/30 cost breakdown on a proposed $3 million project.

"The 70/30 is what we all expected originally and what we were told," Shaffer said. "This would be around a $3 million project instead of a $5 million project."

The proposed improvements would increase train speeds from 5 to 10 mph to 15 mph, commissioners said.

During a meeting of the Greenfield Village Council held Wednesday evening, council voted to waive the three-reading rule and voted 4-0 to pass a resolution authorizing city manager Betty Bishop to submit a new application to the EDA for the rail line repairs and improvements. 

Bishop said, "We hope we can convince them of our economic condition in Greenfield and Highland County."

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• Commissioners also voted, 3-0, Wednesday in support of the Revolving Loan Fund Board to extend an interest-only loan to C-Mold in Greenfield.

The county had previously approved a $485,000 loan for the company.

Wilkin said C-Mold now has 80 employees (up from 40 a few years ago) and has new parts contracts with Honda.

"Doubling their employment is pretty good (for the region)," Wilkin said.

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• Commissioners said they would not appeal the state's ruling in favor of a liquor license application at the former Sunnyside tavern in Allensburg.

"We are not going to appeal," Horst said. "We gave citizens a chance to speak out."

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• Commissioners signed two proclamations Wednesday, one for Support Our Troops of Highland County and another for Highland County Community Action.

Support Our Troops was represented by Steph Roland, Amy Chambers, Claudette Greene, Brenda McLaughlin and Shawn Carter.

Community Action was represented by Mark Current, Brenda Woods, Christi Hauke and Tianna Sammons.