Court action possible between county and Hangar 6

Commissioners proclaimed July 3, as Chuck Collier Day in Highland County. Collier, a Greenfield native, is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey

Hall of Fame. Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber posed with Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst for a photo, as Collier was unable

to attend the ceremony.

The ongoing property tax dispute between the Highland County commissioners and the legal counsel for Hangar 6, a business located at the

Highland County Airport, appears no closer to being resolved after commissioners received a letter this  week from the business’ legal counsel.

   After meeting with Hangar 6 attorney Brian Sullivan of the Cincinnati firm of Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP, in March and agreeing to continue communications, commissioners received  a June 25 letter which reads, in part:

   “When we last met on March 17, 2010, I thought we would be able to come to some resolution concerning the disputed issue of Hangar 6’s obligation to pay for the real estate taxes on the property it leases from Highland County. Since that date, we have heard nothing from the commissioners or Jim Grandey, the county prosecutor.

“Unfortunately, this week Hangar 6 received another tax bill indicating not only is it obligated to pay the current real estate taxes, but must pay all prior assessments dating back to 2005 when the leased property was split by someone in the auditor’s office. To add insult to injury, Hangar 6 also received a tax bill for a ‘manufactured home’ located on the property it leases from the county.

   “I hope this was simply an oversight by the county and not an intentional act. If the purpose of the tax bills was to convey the county’s

position, let me offer this as a response. First, you can imagine the frustration which continues at Hangar 6 by having

this issue unresolved.”

   “I will not review the contents of my letter to the county of Nov. 23, 2009 as it sets forth quite clearly Hangar 6’s legal position,” Sullivan

said. “However, I would add to that, that at the March 17, 2010 meeting, it was brought to our attention that Ray Fenner, another airport tenant, is

obligated to pay real estate taxes. As you know, I was of the belief that Mr. Fenner does not now, nor has he ever, paid real estate taxes. ...

   “I write this letter as one last effort to resolve this with you. While the feelings of cooperation and amicable resolution certainly appeared at

our last meeting, these two invoices, if an intentional act, indicate that the county is not interested in resolving this and wants to proceed to have

this matter resolved by the court.”

Commissioners previously stated they were not aware of the arrangement with Fenner. However, Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley said at the June 30 commissioners meeting that Fenner has been billed for taxes owed. Commission President Shane Wilkin said he was writing a letter to Sullivan in response to the property tax issue.

Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said on March 17, “There is no question the county has to pay tax on the land. {But} I don’t know any provision in Ohio law that permits a county to pay taxes for a third party business which they have no interest in. We cannot pay taxes on something we don’t own. It’s not our name on the mortgage, it’s Hangar 6.”

   At the March meeting with Sullivan and Hangar 6 owner George Matthews, Wilkin said, “For us to ask the taxpayers to subsidize a private business by picking up its taxes, I’m not comfortable with that. The county shouldn’t be in the business of paying private citizens’ taxes.”

   In other action Wednesday, commissioners offered their support of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce “Shop Local” campaign by proclaiming July 2010 as “Made Locally” Labeling Month. The proclamation supports the newly announced chamber program designed to boost the local economy through community involvement with this plan.

   “This will include anything purchased, serviced and made in Highland County,” Chamber President Katy Farber said. “We encouraged people to let others know ‘How I Shop Local,’ and how important it is to support our local

economy.”

   * Commissioners also proclaim Saturday, July 3, as Chuck Collier Day in Highland County. Collier, a Greenfield native, is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. He began his broadcasting career at WSRW in Hillsboro in 1963. Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber posed with Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst for a photo, as Collier was unable to attend the meeting.

   * Commissioners authorized a modification, by a 2-0 vote, to the general fund as follows: from County Miscellaneous Transfers to County

Miscellaneous, Employee Retirement, in the amount of $13,525.72, for retirement expenses for Rodger Marsh, Juvenile Probation Officer.

   * Commissioners agreed that the alley located between Lot Number 11 and Lot Number 14 (on Main Street, S.R. 138) in the community of Buford be closed.

   * The Board authorized a budget modification and transfer to the County Court budget as follows: modification from County Court Special Projects to County Court Special Projects, Transfers out, in the amount of $733.55; and transfer from County Court Special Projects, Transfers, to County Court, Foreign Judge Salary, in the amount of $733.55.

   * The Board agreed to hire Sandra White for the position of Highland County Recycling Outreach Specialist, starting July 6, 2010, with a

probationary period of 90 days (Oct. 6, 2010).

   Commissioner Gary Heaton was not in attendance. He was representing the board at a meeting at the OSU South Center in Pike County, Wilkin said. Heaton told The Highland County Press Thursday that following that meeting the county would continue to be funded in the amount of $120,000 from tobacco settlement monies. The funds are used for grants tied to job retention and growth.

The ongoing property tax dispute between the Highland County commissioners and the legal counsel for Hangar 6, a business located at the Highland County Airport, appears no closer to being resolved after commissioners received a letter this week from the business’ legal counsel.

   After meeting with Hangar 6 attorney Brian Sullivan of the Cincinnati firm of Dinsmore and Shohl, LLP, in March and agreeing to continue communications, commissioners received  a June 25 letter which reads, in part:

   “When we last met on March 17, 2010, I thought we would be able to come to some resolution concerning the disputed issue of Hangar 6’s obligation to pay for the real estate taxes on the property it leases from Highland County. Since that date, we have heard nothing from the commissioners or Jim Grandey, the county prosecutor.

“Unfortunately, this week Hangar 6 received another tax bill indicating not only is it obligated to pay the current real estate taxes, but must pay all prior assessments dating back to 2005 when the leased property was split by someone in the auditor’s office. To add insult to injury, Hangar 6 also received a tax bill for a ‘manufactured home’ located on the property it leases from the county.

   “I hope this was simply an oversight by the county and not an intentional act. If the purpose of the tax bills was to convey the county’s position, let me offer this as a response. First, you can imagine the frustration which continues at Hangar 6 by having this issue unresolved.”

   “I will not review the contents of my letter to the county of Nov. 23, 2009 as it sets forth quite clearly Hangar 6’s legal position,” Sullivan said. “However, I would add to that, that at the March 17, 2010 meeting, it was brought to our attention that Ray Fenner, another airport tenant, is obligated to pay real estate taxes. As you know, I was of the belief that Mr. Fenner does not now, nor has he ever, paid real estate taxes. ...

   “I write this letter as one last effort to resolve this with you. While the feelings of cooperation and amicable resolution certainly appeared at our last meeting, these two invoices, if an intentional act, indicate that the county is not interested in resolving this and wants to proceed to have this matter resolved by the court.”

Commissioners previously stated they were not aware of the arrangement with Fenner. However, Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley said at the June 30 commissioners meeting that Fenner has been billed for taxes owed. Commission President Shane Wilkin said he was writing a letter to Sullivan in response to the property tax issue.

Highland County Prosecutor Jim Grandey said on March 17, “There is no question the county has to pay tax on the land. {But} I don’t know any provision in Ohio law that permits a county to pay taxes for a third party business which they have no interest in. We cannot pay taxes on something we don’t own. It’s not our name on the mortgage, it’s Hangar 6.”

   At the March meeting with Sullivan and Hangar 6 owner George Matthews, Wilkin said, “For us to ask the taxpayers to subsidize a private business by picking up its taxes, I’m not comfortable with that. The county shouldn’t be in the business of paying private citizens’ taxes.”

   In other action Wednesday, commissioners offered their support of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce “Shop Local” campaign by proclaiming July 2010 as “Made Locally” Labeling Month. The proclamation supports the newly announced chamber program designed to boost the local economy through community involvement with this plan.

   “This will include anything purchased, serviced and made in Highland County,” Chamber President Katy Farber said. “We encouraged people to let others know ‘How I Shop Local,’ and how important it is to support our local economy.”

   * Commissioners also proclaim Saturday, July 3, as Chuck Collier Day in Highland County. Collier, a Greenfield native, is a member of the Country Music Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. He began his broadcasting career at WSRW in Hillsboro in 1963. Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber posed with Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst for a photo, as Collier was unable to attend the meeting.

   * Commissioners authorized a modification, by a 2-0 vote, to the general fund as follows: from County Miscellaneous Transfers to County Miscellaneous, Employee Retirement, in the amount of $13,525.72, for retirement expenses for Rodger Marsh, Juvenile Probation Officer.

   * Commissioners agreed that the alley located between Lot Number 11 and Lot Number 14 (on Main Street, S.R. 138) in the community of Buford be closed.

   * The Board authorized a budget modification and transfer to the County Court budget as follows: modification from County Court Special Projects to County Court Special Projects, Transfers out, in the amount of $733.55; and transfer from County Court Special Projects, Transfers, to County Court, Foreign Judge Salary, in the amount of $733.55.

   * The Board agreed to hire Sandra White for the position of Highland County Recycling Outreach Specialist, starting July 6, 2010, with a probationary period of 90 days (Oct. 6, 2010).

   Commissioner Gary Heaton was not in attendance. He was representing the board at a meeting at the OSU South Center in Pike County, Wilkin said. Heaton told The Highland County Press Thursday that following that meeting the county would continue to be funded in the amount of $120,000 from tobacco settlement monies. The funds are used for grants tied to job retention and growth.