Commissioners discuss budget, Grow! Highland County events

Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Jeff Duncan and Tom Horst discussed the county budget for 2016 during their weekly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Wilkin said that the commissioners have received proposed budgets for 2016 and hope to approve the budget at their Dec. 16 meeting.

“There was really no department within the county that had a large request for an increase,” Wilkin said. “I think that shows that the department heads are still very conscientious of the county dollars and made their requests accordingly. We’re going to try to get our number together and give it to Bill (Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley) and see if that fits within his framework.”

Wilkin said that Children Services will have “a large effect” on the county’s budget for next year.

“It’s something we’re probably going to have to at least factor in some money for, where we haven’t in the past,” Wilkin said. “I did have a brief conversation with a commissioner from Ross County, and he told me that they have been putting some General Fund dollars for some time now into their Children Services.”

Fawley said that as of Monday, 143 children were in the care of Children Services.

“I talked to some counties our size, and when I told them 150 kids, they couldn’t believe it,” Horst said. “They said, ‘We’re not anywhere near that.’”

Wilkin said that the county needs to “try to put some money aside for contingency purposes” for the department.

The new assistant Children Services director, Katie Adams, is researching ways to cut back on costs, Wilkin said, “but it’s imperative that everybody knows it’s not going to be a quick answer.”

“You’re not going to go from 143 kids back to our normal of 60 to 70 kids overnight,” Wilkin said. “It’s probably not going to be in six months, either. It’s going to be a little bit of a process to get that done.”

• • •

Pete Pence, Grow! Highland County enterprise facilitator, met with commissioners to invite them to an upcoming open house, scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Alley 21 in Hillsboro.

Grow! Highland County is a partnership between the Highland County Chamber of Commerce and Southern State Community College and is presently funded through a grant from USDA - Rural Development as well as donations from various sources within Highland County. 

The program is based on the proven model of Enterprise Facilitation, which fosters entrepreneurship and small business development within Highland County.

As enterprise facilitator, Pence works with any business that wants assistance in the three areas of business management – the product or service, marketing and financial management.

Pence said that the organization is also planning a client expo, tentatively scheduled for March 24 in Leesburg.

“That’ll be an opportunity for us to have clients we’ve worked with come and show off their goods and products,” Pence said.

Pence said that Grow! Highland County has been “successful” in 2015.

“We’ve had several new businesses open, and we have quite a few in the pipeline,” Pence said. “There will be one that will open before the end of the year, and there are probably three or four that will open sometime next year. One of them has the potential to bring close to 20 jobs for the Hillsboro area. We’re going to keep working toward that and getting these businesses open.”

The program has also been “revamped” in 2015, adding a new logo and starting a website, www.growhighlandcounty.com, according to Pence.

Pence also asked commissioners about finances for the program, as he last visited with commissioners in April regarding “possible funding” from the county for the Grow! Highland County Program.

“There’s a return on your investment that I feel more than makes up for even a small donation,” Pence said. “We’ve been trying to become self-sustaining, and we’re getting there, but it’s going to take the cooperation and partnership of everybody to keep this thing going.”

The villages of Greenfield and Leesburg, along with local banks and individuals, have “committed to help fund the program,” Pence told commissioners.

“We’re a one-of-a-kind organization,” Pence said. “No one else around here is doing exactly what we’re doing.”

Wilkin said they would look into applying for grants to assist with the program but reiterated that the county faces challenges with the 2016 budget.

“Our biggest issue right now is our kids in care, which is really kind of playing havoc with our budget,” Wilkin said. “I’m not sure how our auditor would feel at this point if we were to start allocating money until we get this under control.”

Pence said that he is planning to offer consistent office hours for existing or prospective business owners to meet with him and learn more about Grow! Highland County. He can also be reached at (937) 403-1488 or at pete_pence@yahoo.com.

“I would encourage anyone who has even an idea for a business to get a hold of you first,” Horst said.

Commissioners told Pence to keep them informed of any new business announcements or upcoming events.

“We do appreciate your efforts and what you do for the county,” Duncan said.

• • •

Duncan and Horst provided an update on meetings with the Solid Waste Management District and Clay Township trustees regarding a nuisance property issue on state Route 134.

“They think there may be some funds available through the Solid Waste District to help with that situation,” Duncan said. “Tom and I are going to a meeting with the joint commissioners next Monday.”

Horst said that he and Duncan each drove down to look at the property.

“It is a mess,” Horst said.

Duncan said that he has spoken with Tom Davis, director of the Ross, Pickaway, Highland, Fayette Joint Solid Waste Management District. There are approximately 1,000 tires on the property, according to Davis, and the cost for cleanup would be a minimum of $2 per tire, depending on type.

Horst said that they should have more information on funding the cleanup after their meeting on Monday.

“It might not cover everything, but we’ll do all we can,” Horst said.

• • •

Highland County Commissioners also attended the County Commissioners and County Engineers Associations of Ohio Annual Conference this week.

“There were several good sessions about local funds that will be available that we’ll probably take advantage of,” Wilkin said. “A lot of counties are facing the exact same issue that we’re facing with Children’s Services. Pretty much everyone you talk to says their kids in care costs have escalated.”

• • •

In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A resolution to authorize a change order to the original Aug. 26, 2015 contractual agreement with Miller-Mason Paving Company for the City of Hillsboro - Homestead Avenue, Resurfacing CDBG PY14 project.

• A resolution for additional appropriation to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer in the amount of $22,744.16.

• A request from the Auditor for additional appropriations from unappropriated funds to Debt Retirement Mowrystown in the amount of $6,080.64.

• A request from the Auditor for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to County in the amount of $25 for Correction Entry.

• A request from the Board of Elections for a budget modification within their budget in the amount of $3,000.

• A request from the Emergency Management Agency for a modification within the Right to Know Budget.

• A request from the Emergency Management Agency for a transfer from EMA to Budget in the amount of $2,000.

• A request from Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a reimbursement of funds from CSEA Administrative Account to Public Assistance in the amount of $12,008.80 for November 2015 shared cost distribution.

• A request from Veterans Services to revise their budget.

• A request from the Sheriff for additional appropriations from unappropriated funds to Wireless Personnel Budget in the amount of $800.

• A budget modification within the Recycling Budget.

• A resolution for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Dog & Kennel Fund in the amount of $50.

• A resolution for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Chore Budget in the amount of $241.75 and appropriate to Supplies and Expenses.

• A resolution for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Mowrystown Sewer in the amount of $2,000 and appropriate to Contracts and Services.

• A resolution for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Commissioners Budget in the amount of $7,497 and appropriate to Contracts and Services and Other Expenses.

• A modification within the Maintenance & Operations budget in the amount of $10,000.

• A transfer from Public Assistance Grant to Public Assistance in the amount of $77,020 for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families County Share for 2016.