Commissioners hear proposal on building maintenance, management

Highland County commissioners met again Dec. 8 with representatives from Industrial First, the firm that is currently performing exterior repairs to the Highland  County Courthouse.

       In conjunction with Industrial First, representatives from Paragon Global Enterprises, LLC, also presented the commission with options for building maintenance and warranty protection.

   After a Power Point presentation and discussion of a roof management program for all county-owned buildings, commissioners provided statistical data on building locations and square footage, but took no action on the maintenance proposal.

   Commissioner Gary Heaton said, "This is a luxury right now," citing recent shortfalls in county revenues. Heaton also pointed out that any project estimated above $25,000 was required to be advertised for bids.

   "Our problem is we are in dire straits as far as dollars are concerned," Commission President Shane Wilkin said.

• Following the meeting with Industrial First and Paragon Global, commissioners met with Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward.

   Commissioners approved, by a 3-0 vote, Ward's proposal for a five-year contract with Aramark Food Services for the Justice Center inmates.

     Ward also informed commissioners that he  is working on a potential criminal justice grant and, if approved, the funds would be used to purchase a new patrol car.

   Lastly, Ward told commissioners his office should close the year approximately $10,000 under budget.

"Thank you," said Commissioner Tom Horst.

   Wilkin then said that a lot of counties envy Highland County and its cooperation among the majority of department managers.

   "Our sheriff and judges have been great to work with on their budgets."

   Wilkin added that from what commissioners often hear from other counties, that isn't always the case.

• Commissioners also received a request from The Highland County Press for a written copy of the rules, regulations, policies and procedures regarding the Highland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• The authorization of a modification to the Engineer's budget from Contracts-Projects to Other Expense for $5,000.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Sheriff, from Sheriff's Training to Sheriff's Telephone for $340 and from Sheriff's Contracts & Services to Sheriff's Supplies for $1,500.

• The authorization of a modification to the Children Services budget from Medical Insurance to Salary Official for $538.40 and to Other Child Care (OCC) - Salary for $1,500. The total amount modified from Medical Insurance is $2,038.40.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the General Fund, Prosecuting Attorney, from Unappropriated funds to Prosecuting Attorney, Salary Employees, for $3,300. The additional funds are from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund to cover an error in the 2010 budget projection for salaries. Prosecuting Attorney employee salaries were not increased.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Maintenance & Operations, from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Maintenance & Operations Salary Employees for $2,228.45; and to Maintenance & Operations Supplies for $1,500; and to Maintenance & Operations Repairs for $2,000; and to Maintenance & Operations Services for $6,000. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $11,728.45.

• The authorization of a modification to the Soil & Water budget as follows: from Other Expense to PERS for $500.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Mowrystown Sewer Fund from Unappropriated funds to Mowrystown Sewer, Contracts & Service, for $2,000.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, TEC, as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers, to TEC Supplies for $55.44; and to TEC Repairs for $500; and to TEC Services for $1,000. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $1,555.44.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Commissioners, as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Commissioners Salary Employees for $458.33; and to Commissioners Contracts & Services for $7,000; and to Commissioners Professional Services for $2,292.28. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $9,750.61.

• The authorization of a modification to the Babington Sewer Debt Retirement Fund from Principal to Interest for $8,630.05.

• The authorization of a modification to the Rolling Acres Sewage fund and a transfer from Rolling Acres Sewer Fund to Rocky Lake Sewer Fund as follows: modification from Unappropriated Funds to Rolling Acres Transfers for $48,000; and transfer from Rolling Acres Transfers to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer - Supplies for $2,000 and to Rocky Fork Lake

Sewer - Contracts & Services for $46,000. Since its inception, labor costs for plant operations at Rolling Acres have been paid from the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District fund. The transfer of funds reimburses the labor expense at Rolling Acres for the past five years at a rate of $800/month. Beginning in 2011, labor costs for Rolling Acres will be paid from the P-00 fund at a rate of $800/month.

• The authorization of a new expense line-item and a modification to the Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District fund and a transfer from Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District to Rocky Lake Sewer Fund as follows: create new line-item Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out; modification from Unappropriated Funds to Lakeside

Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out for $7,200; and transfer from Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer for $7,200. Since its inception, labor costs for plant operations at Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District have been paid from the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District fund. The transfer of funds

reimburses the labor expense at Lakeside for 2010 at a rate of $600/month. Beginning in 2011, labor costs for Lakeside will be paid from the P-50 fund at a rate of $600/month.

• The Board authorizes the Highland County Treasurer to add Michelle Truitt, Deputy Treasurer, to the account at Merchants National Bank (checking) to receive information and sign checks on the account and to the Fifth Third Bank investment account.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Clerk of Courts budget, from Salary Employees to Salary Employees (Part Time Help) for $1,256.

• The authorization of additional appropriation and a modification to the Right-To-Know budget and a transfer to the Emergency Management Agency fund as follows: modification from Unappropriated Funds to Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, for $3,662,99; from Office Supplies & Equipment to Transfers Out for $642.01; from Training to Transfers Out for $2,500; from Reimb. to Transfers Out for $1,000; from Planning & Exercise to Transfers Out for $1,000; and from Reimbursement to

Transfers Out for $2,000. Total appropriated to Transfers Out is $10,805. The money was then transferred from Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, to Emergency Management Agency for $10,805.

• The authorization of a new expense line and a modification to the Emergency Management Agency budget and the return of an advance to the General Fund as follows: create new expense line, Advances Out; modification from Supplies to Advances Out for $4,628.01; and return advance from Advances Out to General Fund for $4,628.01.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Treasurer, from Contracts & Services to Telephone Service for $150.

• The authorization of a modification to the Senior Citizens budget as follows from Other Expense to Health Insurance for $679.72 and to PERS for $180.08, for a total from Other Expense of $859.80; and from Unemployment Compensation to Salaries for $3,912.

• The appointment of Shane Wilkin to serve as interim OVRDC Caucus Chair for January, February, and March 2011. Mr. Wilkin will replace Gary Heaton.

Highland County commissioners met again Dec. 8 with representatives from Industrial First, the firm that is currently performing exterior repairs to the Highland  County Courthouse.

       In conjunction with Industrial First, representatives from Paragon Global Enterprises, LLC, also presented the commission with options for building maintenance and warranty protection.

   After a Power Point presentation and discussion of a roof management program for all county-owned buildings, commissioners provided statistical data on building locations and square footage, but took no action on the maintenance proposal.

   Commissioner Gary Heaton said, "This is a luxury right now," citing recent shortfalls in county revenues. Heaton also pointed out that any project estimated above $25,000 was required to be advertised for bids.

   "Our problem is we are in dire straits as far as dollars are concerned," Commission President Shane Wilkin said.

• Following the meeting with Industrial First and Paragon Global, commissioners met with Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward.

   Commissioners approved, by a 3-0 vote, Ward's proposal for a five-year contract with Aramark Food Services for the Justice Center inmates.

     Ward also informed commissioners that he  is working on a potential criminal justice grant and, if approved, the funds would be used to purchase a new patrol car.

   Lastly, Ward told commissioners his office should close the year approximately $10,000 under budget.

"Thank you," said Commissioner Tom Horst.

   Wilkin then said that a lot of counties envy Highland County and its cooperation among the majority of department managers.

   "Our sheriff and judges have been great to work with on their budgets."

   Wilkin added that from what commissioners often hear from other counties, that isn't always the case.

• Commissioners also received a request from The Highland County Press for a written copy of the rules, regulations, policies and procedures regarding the Highland County Convention and Visitors Bureau.

In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• The authorization of a modification to the Engineer's budget from Contracts-Projects to Other Expense for $5,000.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Sheriff, from Sheriff's Training to Sheriff's Telephone for $340 and from Sheriff's Contracts & Services to Sheriff's Supplies for $1,500.

• The authorization of a modification to the Children Services budget from Medical Insurance to Salary Official for $538.40 and to Other Child Care (OCC) - Salary for $1,500. The total amount modified from Medical Insurance is $2,038.40.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the General Fund, Prosecuting Attorney, from Unappropriated funds to Prosecuting Attorney, Salary Employees, for $3,300. The additional funds are from the Law Enforcement Trust Fund to cover an error in the 2010 budget projection for salaries. Prosecuting Attorney employee salaries were not increased.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Maintenance & Operations, from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Maintenance & Operations Salary Employees for $2,228.45; and to Maintenance & Operations Supplies for $1,500; and to Maintenance & Operations Repairs for $2,000; and to Maintenance & Operations Services for $6,000. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $11,728.45.

• The authorization of a modification to the Soil & Water budget as follows: from Other Expense to PERS for $500.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Mowrystown Sewer Fund from Unappropriated funds to Mowrystown Sewer, Contracts & Service, for $2,000.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, TEC, as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers, to TEC Supplies for $55.44; and to TEC Repairs for $500; and to TEC Services for $1,000. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $1,555.44.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Commissioners, as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Commissioners Salary Employees for $458.33; and to Commissioners Contracts & Services for $7,000; and to Commissioners Professional Services for $2,292.28. The total amount modified from Miscellaneous Transfers is $9,750.61.

• The authorization of a modification to the Babington Sewer Debt Retirement Fund from Principal to Interest for $8,630.05.

• The authorization of a modification to the Rolling Acres Sewage fund and a transfer from Rolling Acres Sewer Fund to Rocky Lake Sewer Fund as follows: modification from Unappropriated Funds to Rolling Acres Transfers for $48,000; and transfer from Rolling Acres Transfers to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer - Supplies for $2,000 and to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer - Contracts & Services for $46,000. Since its inception, labor costs for plant operations at Rolling Acres have been paid from the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District fund. The transfer of funds reimburses the labor expense at Rolling Acres for the past five years at a rate of $800/month. Beginning in 2011, labor costs for Rolling Acres will be paid from the P-00 fund at a rate of $800/month.

• The authorization of a new expense line-item and a modification to the Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District fund and a transfer from Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District to Rocky Lake Sewer Fund as follows: create new line-item Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out; modification from Unappropriated Funds to Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out for $7,200; and transfer from Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District, Transfers Out to Rocky Fork Lake Sewer for $7,200. Since its inception, labor costs for plant operations at Lakeside Subdivision Sewer District have been paid from the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District fund. The transfer of funds reimburses the labor expense at Lakeside for 2010 at a rate of $600/month. Beginning in 2011, labor costs for Lakeside will be paid from the P-50 fund at a rate of $600/month.

• The Board authorizes the Highland County Treasurer to add Michelle Truitt, Deputy Treasurer, to the account at Merchants National Bank (checking) to receive information and sign checks on the account and to the Fifth Third Bank investment account.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Clerk of Courts budget, from Salary Employees to Salary Employees (Part Time Help) for $1,256.

• The authorization of additional appropriation and a modification to the Right-To-Know budget and a transfer to the Emergency Management Agency fund as follows: modification from Unappropriated Funds to Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, for $3,662,99; from Office Supplies & Equipment to Transfers Out for $642.01; from Training to Transfers Out for $2,500; from Reimb. to Transfers Out for $1,000; from Planning & Exercise to Transfers Out for $1,000; and from Reimbursement to

Transfers Out for $2,000. Total appropriated to Transfers Out is $10,805. The money was then transferred from Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, to Emergency Management Agency for $10,805.

• The authorization of a new expense line and a modification to the Emergency Management Agency budget and the return of an advance to the General Fund as follows: create new expense line, Advances Out; modification from Supplies to Advances Out for $4,628.01; and return advance from Advances Out to General Fund for $4,628.01.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Treasurer, from Contracts & Services to Telephone Service for $150.

• The authorization of a modification to the Senior Citizens budget as follows from Other Expense to Health Insurance for $679.72 and to PERS for $180.08, for a total from Other Expense of $859.80; and from Unemployment Compensation to Salaries for $3,912.

• The appointment of Shane Wilkin to serve as interim OVRDC Caucus Chair for January, February, and March 2011. Mr. Wilkin will replace Gary Heaton.