County blasts city over contract notice
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County blasts city over contract notice
Commissioners say city’s action on systems
contract could have placed citizens in danger
Highland County commissioners submitted a curt response this week to Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt, following the city’s
decision to end a maintenance agreement on the county sheriff’s computer network system.
Commissioners said they received only 12 hours’ notice from the city on the contract termination.
The county received a July 8 letter from Holt, which read: “Dear Commissioners: This letter is in regards to the intergovernmental service
agreement between the city of Hillsboro’s systems’ administrator and the Highland County Sheriff’s Office for maintenance of the sheriff’s computer
network and facilities. I regret to inform you that as of July 9, 2010, the city of Hillsboro will no longer be able to provide this service.”
At their Wednesday board meeting, commissioners said they were not pleased with the minimal notice. “They only gave us 12 hours’ notice that
the IT (Information Technology) contract would be terminated,” Commissioner Gary Heaton said.
“We had no correspondence or discussion until we got the city’s fax,” Commissioner Tom Horst said. Heaton, Horst and Commission President Shane
Wilkin responded to the city as follows:
“In response to your letter dated July 8, 2010 regarding the agreement between Highland County and the city of Hillsboro, we were shocked and
disappointed that the agreement for technical support for the sheriff’s computer network was being canceled in less than 24 hours.
“Your action left the county with no support for these critical systems. This not only placed a hardship on the county, but its citizens as well, for
such an act could have placed them in danger had there been a technical issue with the 911 system.”
“The lack of communication prior to terminating the contract as well as the lack of response to the sheriff’s attempts to contact Eric Daniels,
Information Technology administrator, on July 9, only emphasizes the potential danger. Simple professional courtesy between two governmental
agencies would entitled Highland County to substantially more notice than 12 hours.
“Through our actions, Highland County has attempted to be a good partner with the city of Hillsboro. At the city’s request, we renegotiated the cost
of utilities shared by the city and the county at the Highland County Justice Center. When the Municipal Building was closed, the county housed
the police department at the Justice Center for more than three years at no charge. Also, with no charge to the city, we dispatch all Fire and EMS runs
and transfer 911 calls to your dispatch center. Additionally, the city of Hillsboro benefits from the county’s membership in such organizations as the
Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. Over $1 million dollars in ARC funds went to support infrastructure projects in Hillsboro in the last 10
years. All of these services have been provided to the city of Hillsboro at no charge.
“In the future we ask for due and just warning regarding any change affecting the county, as expected in any good business relationship. We will
be reviewing all services that are currently being exchanged between the city and county and will give you reasonable notice of any changes to those services.”
• In other business, commissioners scheduled two executive sessions Wednesday: one with Brent Fite regarding the purchase/sale of property, and
the other with the state auditor’s office.
• Commissioners received a letter from Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop advising the county that the city of Greenfield has decided to
re-open its police dispatch center and will no longer need the services of the sheriff’s dispatch.
“On behalf of the citizens of Greenfield and the police department, we sincerely appreciate the efforts and assistance of the sheriff’s department
through our difficult time,” Bishop said.
Bid openings
• Commissioners opened bids on three projects: a paving project on Fascination Way in Paint Township, a paving project on Ellis Road in Clay
Township, and a sidewalk project on John Street in Hillsboro. Miller-Mason Paving submitted a low bid of $84,910 on the Paint Township project. Brown
County Asphalt submitted a low bid of $29,054.40 on the Clay Township project. Bob Evans Excavating submitted a low bid of $19,988 on the John
Street sidewalk project. No immediate action was taken by commissioners.
• Commissioners met with Mary Banks regarding a disagreement with the Highland County Treasurer’s Office over an assessed late penalty on her
property taxes. The issue was resolved to Mrs. Banks’ satisfaction.
“We’re glad it’s taken care of, although we have no direct involvement in this,” Heaton said.
• Commissioners met with Rafeal Underwood, a staff consultant and economic recovery coordinator for Highland, Clinton and Fayette counties.
Underwood told commissioners a recent report from the EDA (Economic Development Administration) confirmed that the DHL job losses had a more severe impact on Highland County than any other county.
Underwood also said he is working with the city of Greenfield on its proposed wind and solar energy project and maintaining its rail line.
“Greenfield’s being very aggressive,” Underwood said, adding that he’s met recently with C-Mold representatives and Charlie Stevens of Stevens Hardware on a proposed business incubator.
Heaton informed Underwood that Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop is in the process of scheduling a meeting with Ohio first lady Frances
Strickland regarding the rail line and other development issues.
Resolutions
Commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget (Common Pleas Court) as follows: from Common Pleas, Advertising, to Common Pleas,
Telephone, in the amount of $1,500.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget (County Airport) as follows: from Maintenance & Operations, Services, to County
Airport, Other Expense, in the amount of $1,000. The modification is for the quarterly security system cost and the quarterly AWOS system maintenance.
• The authorization of a modification to the June 2010 mandated distribution of Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrative Account funds to the Public Assistance Account as follows: from Child Support,
Reimbursement, to Public Assistance, in the amount of $12,490.78.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget as follows: from commissioners, other expense, to commissioners, advertising & printing, in the amount of $250.
• The authorization of a modification to the Engineer’s budget as follows: from Salary, Official, to Materials, in the amount of $5,000; from
Salary, Employees, to Materials, in the amount of $15,000; from Equipment to Grant, in the amount of $1,500; from Laborers, Salary, to Contracts &
Services, in the amount of $28,500.
• The authorization of a modification to the Board of Developmental Disabilities as follows: from Contract Services to Equipment, in the amount
of $30,000.
Highland County commissioners submitted a curt response this week to Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt, following the city’s decision to end a maintenance agreement on the county sheriff’s computer network system.
Commissioners said they received only 12 hours’ notice from the city on the contract termination.
The county received a July 8 letter from Holt, which read: “Dear Commissioners: This letter is in regards to the intergovernmental service agreement between the city of Hillsboro’s systems’ administrator and the Highland County Sheriff’s Office for maintenance of the sheriff’s computer network and facilities. I regret to inform you that as of July 9, 2010, the city of Hillsboro will no longer be able to provide this service.”
At their Wednesday board meeting, commissioners said they were not pleased with the minimal notice. “They only gave us 12 hours’ notice that the IT (Information Technology) contract would be terminated,” Commissioner Gary Heaton said.
“We had no correspondence or discussion until we got the city’s fax,” Commissioner Tom Horst said. Heaton, Horst and Commission President Shane Wilkin responded to the city as follows:
“In response to your letter dated July 8, 2010 regarding the agreement between Highland County and the city of Hillsboro, we were shocked and disappointed that the agreement for technical support for the sheriff’s computer network was being canceled in less than 24 hours.
“Your action left the county with no support for these critical systems. This not only placed a hardship on the county, but its citizens as well, for such an act could have placed them in danger had there been a technical issue with the 911 system.”
“The lack of communication prior to terminating the contract as well as the lack of response to the sheriff’s attempts to contact Eric Daniels, Information Technology administrator, on July 9, only emphasizes the potential danger. Simple professional courtesy between two governmental agencies would entitled Highland County to substantially more notice than 12 hours.
“Through our actions, Highland County has attempted to be a good partner with the city of Hillsboro. At the city’s request, we renegotiated the cost of utilities shared by the city and the county at the Highland County Justice Center. When the Municipal Building was closed, the county housed the police department at the Justice Center for more than three years at no charge. Also, with no charge to the city, we dispatch all Fire and EMS runs and transfer 911 calls to your dispatch center. Additionally, the city of Hillsboro benefits from the county’s membership in such organizations as the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission. Over $1 million dollars in ARC funds went to support infrastructure projects in Hillsboro in the last 10 years. All of these services have been provided to the city of Hillsboro at no charge.
“In the future we ask for due and just warning regarding any change affecting the county, as expected in any good business relationship. We will be reviewing all services that are currently being exchanged between the city and county and will give you reasonable notice of any changes to those services.”
• In other business, commissioners scheduled two executive sessions Wednesday: one with Brent Fite regarding the purchase/sale of property, and the other with the state auditor’s office.
• Commissioners received a letter from Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop advising the county that the city of Greenfield has decided to re-open its police dispatch center and will no longer need the services of the sheriff’s dispatch.
“On behalf of the citizens of Greenfield and the police department, we sincerely appreciate the efforts and assistance of the sheriff’s department through our difficult time,” Bishop said.
Bid openings
• Commissioners opened bids on three projects: a paving project on Fascination Way in Paint Township, a paving project on Ellis Road in Clay Township, and a sidewalk project on John Street in Hillsboro. Miller-Mason Paving submitted a low bid of $84,910 on the Paint Township project. Brown County Asphalt submitted a low bid of $29,054.40 on the Clay Township project. Bob Evans Excavating submitted a low bid of $19,988 on the John Street sidewalk project. No immediate action was taken by commissioners.
• Commissioners met with Mary Banks regarding a disagreement with the Highland County Treasurer’s Office over an assessed late penalty on her property taxes. The issue was resolved to Mrs. Banks’ satisfaction.
“We’re glad it’s taken care of, although we have no direct involvement in this,” Heaton said.
• Commissioners met with Rafeal Underwood, a staff consultant and economic recovery coordinator for Highland, Clinton and Fayette counties.
Underwood told commissioners a recent report from the EDA (Economic Development Administration) confirmed that the DHL job losses had a more severe impact on Highland County than any other county.
Underwood also said he is working with the city of Greenfield on its proposed wind and solar energy project and maintaining its rail line.
“Greenfield’s being very aggressive,” Underwood said, adding that he’s met recently with C-Mold representatives and Charlie Stevens of Stevens Hardware on a proposed business incubator.
Heaton informed Underwood that Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop is in the process of scheduling a meeting with Ohio first lady Frances Strickland regarding the rail line and other development issues.
Resolutions
Commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget (Common Pleas Court) as follows: from Common Pleas, Advertising, to Common Pleas, Telephone, in the amount of $1,500.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget (County Airport) as follows: from Maintenance & Operations, Services, to County Airport, Other Expense, in the amount of $1,000. The modification is for the quarterly security system cost and the quarterly AWOS system maintenance.
• The authorization of a modification to the June 2010 mandated distribution of Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrative Account funds to the Public Assistance Account as follows: from Child Support, Reimbursement, to Public Assistance, in the amount of $12,490.78.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund budget as follows: from commissioners, other expense, to commissioners, advertising & printing, in the amount of $250.
• The authorization of a modification to the Engineer’s budget as follows: from Salary, Official, to Materials, in the amount of $5,000; from Salary, Employees, to Materials, in the amount of $15,000; from Equipment to Grant, in the amount of $1,500; from Laborers, Salary, to Contracts & Services, in the amount of $28,500.
• The authorization of a modification to the Board of Developmental Disabilities as follows: from Contract Services to Equipment, in the amount of $30,000.
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