Commissioners proclaim Conservation Day; Wilkin, Horst asked to respond to forum issues

The Highland County Board of Commissioners, at their Oct. 10 meeting, proclaimed Oct. 11 as Conservation Day in celebration of Highland Soil and Water Conservation District's 70th annual meeting.

According to the proclamation, "The Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Committee on April 29, 1942, determined that the operation of the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District is necessary to protect our natural resources, and the such needed Soil and Water Conservation District in Highland County became the first functioned district of its kind in the state.

"The Highland Soil and Water Conservation District has taken available technical, financial and educational resources and have coordinated them to meet the conservation needs of the community and local landowners for 70 years.

"Keeping water clean and soil productive in Highland County is as important today and in the future as it was 70 years ago. Therefore, the Highland County Board of Commissioners proclaim Oct. 11 as Conservation Day in celebration of Highland Soil and Water Conservation District's 70th annual meeting."

The Highland Soil & Water Conservation District’s 70th annual meeting will be held on Oct. 11 at the Highland County Training & Employment Center (Hi-TEC), located at 1575 N. High Street in Hillsboro from 5-7 p.m.

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Resolutions

In other business, commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer passed three resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• A modification of $133.75 in the Highland County coroner's budget;

• An additional appropriation in the Board of Elections' office to part-time salary in the amount of $1,856; and,

• A transfer of funds in the Airport Authority Automated Weather Observation System radio to the N-22 account in the amount of $525.

After voting on the resolutions, Commissioner Shaffer excused himself in order to attend the funeral of a family member, with condolences from his fellow commissioners.

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Public discussion

In public discussion, Hillsboro resident Barb Cole asked Commission President Shane Wilkin, "Could you clarify at the time of your partnership with another public official, did you removed yourself from any votes?"

"Actually, no," Wilkin replied.

Wilkin then asked Highland County Press publisher Rory Ryan if he could share the conversation they had on the matter approximately two years ago.

At that time, Wilkin acknowledged that he was in a business partnership, Triad Investments, LLC, with two other Highland County public officials – Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward and then-Highland County Children Services Board member Chris Lewis. (The Children Services Board was disbanded last year.)

The business partnership is listed on the officials' respective public Financial Disclosure Statements filed in 2010 with the Ohio Ethics Commission.

Ryan explained that when the issue arose two years ago, he had instructed an editor to seek clarification from the Ohio Attorney General's office. Ryan said the AG's office provided a precedent that found no improprieties in a similar situation in a northern Ohio city in which a mayor and member of council were business partners.

Wilkin then said, "I don't believe there was ever a 2-1 vote (on resolutions related to the sheriff's office). My participation would not have changed anything.

"If I have shown preferential treatment, please show me," Wilkin said. "His (Sheriff Ward's) budget has been cut the most."

"I've seen you abstain from votes on liquor license applications," Cole said. (Wilkin holds a state of Ohio liquor license.)

Cole said she was not implying there was any inappropriate actions by the commissioner.

Wilkin said, "I think you are, by asking the question."

"I think when appropriations are made the public deserves to know about this (business partnership)," Cole said.

"Point taken," Wilkin said.

Wilkin said at the forum that the business relationship no longer exists.

• In further public discussion, Highland County resident Fred Boggess asked for a copy of the county's courthouse lawn use policy.

Commissioners Wilkin and Horst said there was no written policy.

Boggess said at the Oct. 8 AAUW Candidates Forum, Horst mentioned the policy. Horst said on Oct. 8 the current policy bans grills, tables and tents from the courthouse lawn.

"What is the public supposed to use if there's no written policy?" Boggess asked. "If there is no policy, if it's not established (in writing), then there's no policy?"

"That is correct," Wilkin said.

"We're working on that for next year," Horst said. "There is a policy; it is not written. The two other commissioners told me I was in charge of the courthouse lawn. They ceded their authority to me."

"Then the other two commissioners can cede their authority without a vote?" Boggess asked.

"We're trying to preserve the courthouse to the best of our ability," Wilkin said.

"(But) to establish a policy, there has to be a vote," Boggess said. "It was stated Monday (at the forum) this is the county policy."

"It isn't a law," Horst said.

"We hope to have a policy by the first of the year," Wilkin said.

"Fred, I will tell you that I misspoke," Horst said, in reference to his forum comments about the policy.

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• Commissioners also met with Bill Bradish of Palmer Energy regarding gas and electric utilities.