Commissioners seek opinion on Scott House acquisition
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer sought and received an opinion on a potential property acquisition or lease from Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins.
At the June 29 commissioners’ meeting, Commission Vice President Tom Horst said there has been an informal conversation with the school district regarding the Scott House, with the possibility of using the building for the Highland County Historical Society and Visitors Center.
Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told The Highland County Press this week that there’s been nothing more than an informal discussion on the possible transaction or lease agreement.
Collins sent the following opinion to the Board of Commissioners in a June 23 letter: “This letter is in response to a request by Commissioner Tom Horst regarding the purchase of property commonly known as the Scott House from the Hillsboro City School Board. It is my opinion that pursuant to O.R.C §3313.14(C) that the school board may sell the Highland County Board of Commissioners the Scott House without a public auction as the Highland County Board of Commissioners is an accepted entity pursuant to O.R.C. §5705.01.
“Additionally, it is my opinion that pursuant to O.R.C. §307.09 that the Board of Commissioners may lease the Scott House property to the Highland County Historical Society and the Visitors Center.”
• In other business, commissioners said they are accepting letters of interest from prospective candidates for appointment to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities to fill the vacancy caused by Sam Snyder being deemed ineligible by Superintendent Chuck Biggert on June 28. Snyder was declared ineligible after serving for six months, due to failing to file a declaration of eligibility form prior to taking his oath of office.
“I did call the former Board of DD secretary, and she said the form was placed in (Mr. Snyder’s) file,” Commission President Shane Wilkin said.
“Mr. Snyder will still be eligible to come back on the board,” Horst said.
• Commissioners stated the county should reach its 2011 projected revenues sometime in December. “We are a little ahead of last year, but things can change month to month,” Horst said.
• Commissioners held an executive session for approximately 20 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.
• Commissioners received the following correspondence from State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, who wrote to House leadership regarding potential cuts in local government funds.
Rep. Rosenberger wrote to House Speaker Bill Batchelder and House Finance Committee Chairman Ron Amstutz on June 23:
“I write to respectfully request that you remove Senate Amendment SC2479 from Substitute House Bill 153, the General Revenue Budget. This amendment will have a devastating effect on the well-being of Clinton, Highland and Pike County government.
“The amendment will change the Local Government Fund (LGF) local distribution formula and process for approval of an alternative LGF formula. Currently, all communities have the authority to use a fair process to establish alternative LGF formula. The amendment will do away with this ability, and by putting a 30-percent cap in the amount of LGF
funding that can be allotted to any one subdivision, will cause 78 counties to lose additional funding.
“These changes will be detrimental the 86th House District and present no alternatives by which a county can make up for such a funding loss. A restructuring of the Local Government Fund will harm the work we have done to promote local government efficiency. We already chose to make a 50-percent reduction to the LGF; this alone will substantially reduce county general funds. Now is simply not the time to implement a re-calculation of this fund as well. Please support the 86th House District and local entities across the state by removing Amendment SC2479 from Substitute House Bill 153.”[[In-content Ad]]
At the June 29 commissioners’ meeting, Commission Vice President Tom Horst said there has been an informal conversation with the school district regarding the Scott House, with the possibility of using the building for the Highland County Historical Society and Visitors Center.
Hillsboro City Schools Superintendent Rick Earley told The Highland County Press this week that there’s been nothing more than an informal discussion on the possible transaction or lease agreement.
Collins sent the following opinion to the Board of Commissioners in a June 23 letter: “This letter is in response to a request by Commissioner Tom Horst regarding the purchase of property commonly known as the Scott House from the Hillsboro City School Board. It is my opinion that pursuant to O.R.C §3313.14(C) that the school board may sell the Highland County Board of Commissioners the Scott House without a public auction as the Highland County Board of Commissioners is an accepted entity pursuant to O.R.C. §5705.01.
“Additionally, it is my opinion that pursuant to O.R.C. §307.09 that the Board of Commissioners may lease the Scott House property to the Highland County Historical Society and the Visitors Center.”
• In other business, commissioners said they are accepting letters of interest from prospective candidates for appointment to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities to fill the vacancy caused by Sam Snyder being deemed ineligible by Superintendent Chuck Biggert on June 28. Snyder was declared ineligible after serving for six months, due to failing to file a declaration of eligibility form prior to taking his oath of office.
“I did call the former Board of DD secretary, and she said the form was placed in (Mr. Snyder’s) file,” Commission President Shane Wilkin said.
“Mr. Snyder will still be eligible to come back on the board,” Horst said.
• Commissioners stated the county should reach its 2011 projected revenues sometime in December. “We are a little ahead of last year, but things can change month to month,” Horst said.
• Commissioners held an executive session for approximately 20 minutes to discuss a personnel matter.
• Commissioners received the following correspondence from State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger, who wrote to House leadership regarding potential cuts in local government funds.
Rep. Rosenberger wrote to House Speaker Bill Batchelder and House Finance Committee Chairman Ron Amstutz on June 23:
“I write to respectfully request that you remove Senate Amendment SC2479 from Substitute House Bill 153, the General Revenue Budget. This amendment will have a devastating effect on the well-being of Clinton, Highland and Pike County government.
“The amendment will change the Local Government Fund (LGF) local distribution formula and process for approval of an alternative LGF formula. Currently, all communities have the authority to use a fair process to establish alternative LGF formula. The amendment will do away with this ability, and by putting a 30-percent cap in the amount of LGF
funding that can be allotted to any one subdivision, will cause 78 counties to lose additional funding.
“These changes will be detrimental the 86th House District and present no alternatives by which a county can make up for such a funding loss. A restructuring of the Local Government Fund will harm the work we have done to promote local government efficiency. We already chose to make a 50-percent reduction to the LGF; this alone will substantially reduce county general funds. Now is simply not the time to implement a re-calculation of this fund as well. Please support the 86th House District and local entities across the state by removing Amendment SC2479 from Substitute House Bill 153.”[[In-content Ad]]