Commissioners proclaim United Against Opiate and Heroin Abuse Week

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Highland County Board of Commissioners met Wednesday, Feb. 25 with members of FRS, the village of Greenfield and the city of Hillsboro and proclaimed the week of Feb. 23-March 1 as United Against Opiate and Heroin Abuse Week in Highland County.

FRS Counseling Executive Director Joe Adray informed commissioners that at least two people die from a prescription painkiller or heroin overdose every day in the 20 counties that surround greater Cincinnati.

Adray also said that in southern Ohio, the rates for new cases of hepatitis C infections are higher than the national average and that local law enforcement are seeing higher rates of crime related to these drugs.

"Community members have to come together in order to address this epidemic across the region," Adray said. "All over the region, we will use this week to develop solutions to this problem and understand the role each of us can play in eliminating opiate abuse and heroin from our communities."

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• Commissioners met with Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and passed an amendment to a 2014 ordinance related to the Carl Smith/Hobart Drive construction project.

Commissioners amended Resolution 2014-236 to add the name of Gladys Smith as a trustee to the Carl Smith trust. Collins said there are two trusts on property related to the project, one in the name of Carl Smith trust and one Gladys Smith trust. Gladys Smith is a trustee for both trusts.

The Smith property is the only remaining property the county must acquire for the construction. Collins said mediation with Smith will be 1 p.m. March 6. The mediation is not open to the public.

According to Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth, the bids on the project will be announced by the Ohio Department of Transportation Thursday, Feb. 26.

"We'll find out tomorrow what the bids are," Otworth said. "We hope to have a great project that will make Hillsboro and Highland County proud."

Otworth thanked Vaughn Wilson, deputy director of ODOT District 9; the Highland County Board of Commissioners; the city of Hillsboro; and all property owners along the project.

Otworth explained the construction will include three phases. Phase one will start at state Route 73 and come across Careytown Road; phase two will be from Homestead Avenue to U.S. 62; and phase three will be south on Careytown Road to Harry Sauner Road.

"This will be very nice and a much-needed improvement for Highland County," Otworth said.

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• In other action, commissioners approved the purchase of a new gas heater for the Highland County Dog Pound, for a total cost of $1,289, including installation, through Wilkin Heating and Cooling.

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• Wilkin updated the board on a meeting held in conjunction with Governor John Kasich's State of the State event in Wilmington on Feb. 24. Wilkin and Nicole Oberrecht of the commissioners' office attended a meeting on Jobs Ohio.

"At first, there was some disconnect when projects went to Jobs Ohio," Wilkin said. "They've been much more aggressive going out and soliciting business; overall, it was a good meeting held at the Southern State Community College Fayette Campus."

Also related to the State of the State, Commissioners Horst and Duncan attended a meeting at the Laurel Oaks campus in Wilmington Tuesday.

"It was very informative. They demonstrated several new programs. It is amazing the things they are doing," Horst said. "Some programs allow the students to go directly to work after high school graduation."

Duncan said he also attended a small business roundtable that was "very informative, and this is a place where small businesses can go and help get rid of some of the red tape from the state of Ohio."

The commissioners also met with Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey and Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Agriculture Director Dave Daniels and other state officials.

Horst said Highland County representatives at the event included Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin, Hillsboro business owner Steve Thompson, Weastec vice president Bill Smith and the Highland County Chamber of Commerce.

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• Commissioner Horst announced that the Lynchburg-Clay Local Schools received an award of excellence from the state of Ohio.

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• Commissioners received bids on area road projects including Carmel Road, Slate Hill Road and Fairfield Road. All bids will be reviewed by the county engineer, who will then contact the bid recipient.

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

• A request from Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a reimbursement from Public Assistance Account to County General Fund for central services support in the amount of $31,549.75, along with a request for reimbursement from Child Support Enforcement to County General Fund in the amount of $4,740.

• A request from the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a reimbursement from CSEA Administrative Account to Public Assistance Account in the amount of $21,287.11.

• A request from County Court for additional appropriation to the County Court budget in the amount of $239.70.

• A request from the Sheriff for additional appropriation to the Sheriff Budget in the amount of $4,783.13.

• A modification within County Miscellaneous Transfers Out to Advances Out in the amount of $100,000 and an advance from Advances Out to Engineer in the amount of $100,000.