Commissioners move forward with 3 CDBG projects

The Highland County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 to move forward with the grant application process for three proposed CDBG projects affecting Hillsboro, Lynchburg and Jackson Township.

Commissioners opened their April 16 meeting at 11:20 a.m. with the second Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) public hearing, regarding applications for grants for the county.

Tami Pierre, representing the Village of Lynchburg, and Carleta Weyrich, representing Jackson Township, attended the hearing.

County Clerk Nicole Oberrecht informed those in attendance that "$112,000 had been allocated for the county to apply for," and that the county had proposed three projects: resurfacing Homestead Avenue in Hillsboro; hydrant and water main shutoff valve replacement in Lynchburg; and resurfacing Burgess Road in Jackson Township.

"The total of those projects are $89,600, with Greenfield being listed as a backup project should we need to utilize that," Oberrecht said.

Oberrecht told commissioners that the online application will be open May 5, with the deadline to apply set for June 20.

Commissioners voted 3-0 to move forward with the projects.

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Highland County YMCA Executive Director Mike Lozano and other YMCA representatives met with commissioners regarding a planned grand re-opening and a national Healthy Kids Day celebration at the YMCA.

"Here in Highland County, we are celebrating [Healthy Kids Day], but in addition to that, we are unveiling new fitness equipment that's going to be coming in right before that date," Lozano said. "We're having a dual-purpose event, with a grand reopening of our new fitness center within the YMCA on that same day as well as Healthy Kids Day. It's going to be a big day of all kinds of events, demonstrations, music, food and a bunch of fun."

The event is scheduled for April 26 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Commissioners presented a proclamation recognizing April 26 as Healthy Kids Day and as a grand reopening for the Highland County YMCA.

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Concerned parent Kim O'Madden, along with her parent advocate, Dana Berryman of Parent Advocacy Connection, addressed commissioners regarding an issue O'Madden is facing with her young daughter's Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) through the Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Berryman told commissioners that O'Madden scheduled two meetings in December to rewrite the IFSP, and service start dates were set for Jan. 23.

"Services never started," Berryman said.

O'Madden mailed a letter dated March 14 to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities "to ask why the services hadn't been started," Berryman said.

In the letter, O'Madden stated that among those services were not provided were "assistive technology training, educational training, sign language training for her and our family, additional PT/OT and speech [therapy], up until recently a parental support group, other information training for children with special needs, [and] respite/home health services."

"I am truly disappointed in the lack of involvement and communication that the Highland County Board of DD has provided my daughter," O'Madden said in the letter. "I would not have been receiving any services had I not inquired, questioned and sought out these services myself.

"What is happening to those kids whose parents may not be actively involved in pursuing services, education and training to allow their child the best way possible to become an independent member of society? Do they even receive services at all?"

Highland County Board of DD Education Service Director Dawn M. Stallard responded to O'Madden's complaint in a letter dated March 31, along with "a copy of the resolution of complaints and policy procedures for Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities as well as the Parent Rights from Help Me Grow."

O'Madden again responded in a letter to the Board of DD dated April 9 outlining reasons why she was "not happy with the response" from Stallard and expanding on the complaints in her March 14 letter.

"Who have you talked to prior to coming here?" Commissioner Shane Wilkin asked.

"You're the third group of people," O'Madden said.

Berryman said that in addition to the Highland County Board of DD, O'Madden has also presented her complaints to the Family and Children First Council (FCFC).

"Have you talked to Fred [Williams, superintendent of the Board of DD] directly?" Wilkin asked.

"He left the [board of DD] meeting Thursday when it was to be addressed," Berryman said.

"Prior to writing the board, have you tried to contact Fred?" Wilkin asked.

"He will not return a phone call," Berryman said.

Berryman said that O'Madden is "trying to bring awareness that they're claiming that they're providing EI [early intervention] services" but failing and that the Family Support Services (FSS) funds are reportedly depleted for the year.

"We have over 60 children that are identified Part C [babies and toddlers]," Berryman said. "They're providing services to 20.

"The FSS money is claimed to be budgeted for the entire year. They get an allotment of $740. Parents received a letter in March saying that those funds have been depleted. If parents haven't used the money, how is [sic] the funds depleted?"

"The funds are for things like the respite care and assistive technology for all these families," O'Madden said. "We applied for that. We got 100 percent of that. I did not use it because I thought we were going to spread this out to a July to July calendar year, to make sure that in case something comes up, we would have this. Now the funds are gone, as of the beginning of March."

Wilkin told O'Madden and Berryman that commissioners would follow up with Williams and the Board of DD and meet with them to check on the issue.

"She feels like she has tried that, and they're trying to throw it back on Help Me Grow," Berryman said.

"We have no direct power over the board of DD," Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer said. "I just want to be clear there, but we are all willing to help you work through this or at least get everybody at the same table and talk."

"Let us follow up with the board and the director, and our office will follow up with you," Wilkin said.

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

• A request by Highland County Department of Job & Family Services for a reimbursement of funds from CSEA Administrative Reimbursement to Public Assistance Account in the amount of $8,534.50.

• A request by Help Me Grow for additional appropriations to HMG Fund from unappropriated funds in the amount of $6,000 and a request for an advance from HMG to MIECHV in the amount of $6,000.

• An offer of support for the Corridor Heritage Tourism Project and authorization for OVRDC council to undertake funding initiatives.

Commissioners voted 3-0 for Oberrecht to attend Certified Public Records Training on behalf of Shaffer and Wilkin and voted 3-0 to accept the Engineer's bids for a Coffee Road project.

Commissioners also discussed quotes collected by Shaffer to purchase mowers. Prices and availability will be checked, and the discussion will continue at the April 23 meeting.

Commissioners adjourned at 11:55 a.m. for an executive session regarding personnel. No action was taken following the executive session.