Hillsboro mayor submits high bid on Annex Building

Pending bid approval, Hillsboro mayor Drew Hastings has added to his ownership of buildings in the uptown Hillsboro area.

During a bid opening at the Wednesday meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Hastings, in the name of his Firehouse Square Partners LLC, submitted the high bid of $42,000 for the Highland County Annex Building and parking lot.

The bids were originally scheduled to be opened at the Sept. 18 commissioners' meeting; however, due to an error in the commissioners' office, the bids were opened this week. Two bids were received. In addition to Hastings' $42,000 bid, John "Buck" Wilkin submitted a bid of $40,100.

Commission President Shane Wilkin asked Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins to review the bids.

The mayor, and/or his LLCs, own a number of buildings in uptown Hillsboro, including the historic Bell's Opera House and other properties.

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October is Domestic
Violence Awareness Month

• In other action, commissioners proclaimed October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and signed a proclamation for Julie Brassel, director of the Alternatives to Violence Center.

Brassel updated commissioners Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer on a few events related to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

This year's annual trivia night competition will be Oct. 4 from 6:30-9 p.m. at the Hillsboro Elks Lodge. There will be trivia questions on superheroes and villains, as well as general trivia, and a first-place cash prize of $300 will be awarded.

Anyone interested in putting a team together should contact Brassel at 393-8118 or email her at jbrassel@co.highland.oh.us.

Brassel also said the annual ladders campaign is under way for uptown businesses to decorate in observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There also will be a training session in Wilmington at the city building community room on Oct. 10 from 9-11 a.m.

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• Commissioners also discussed an update from the Family and Children First Council regarding an earlier proposal for a salary increase for Help Me Grow Director Heather Gibson.

Shaffer reported that FCFC recommended an increase of 15 percent, retroactive to July 1, 2013, and as the client capacity was realized in Adams and Brown counties, there would be additional increases of 2 percent and 3 percent, bringing the total salary increase to 20 percent.

"It was thoroughly discussed at the FCFC meeting," Shaffer told the board. "If every county had its own director, it would probably be $40,000 to $50,000 more per year, per county."

After Shaffer updated commissioners on the Family and Children First Council recommendation, Wilkin asked for Horst's opinion.

"I understand she's expanding the program," Horst said. "Even though it's grant monies, I am not in favor of this increase. I would be a 'no' vote on this."

Collins asked the board if Adams and Brown counties were paying part of the increase.

"It's all state money," Wilkin said.

"She has appropriated a raise," Shaffer said.

"She can give herself a raise?" Collins asked.

"No," Shaffer said. "She's just budgeted for it."

"My first thought is making something retroactive is a no," Wilkin said. "I'm going to need a little more time. I'll do a little more research. Fifteen percent going to 20 percent is a pretty hefty increase."

"Yes, it is," Horst said.

"Sounds to me like I'm going to need to put this back on for next week," Wilkin said.

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• Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley updated commissioners that the new dog licensing program was to be installed Wednesday, and training would be taking place.

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• Wilkin and Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward were meeting Wednesday for the proposed regional 911 Center. Wilkin said he met Tuesday in Georgetown, and the local meeting would be for interviews, questions and concerns in Highland County.

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• Wilkin read a letter from Greenfield Products' Ann Pence, thanking the board for supporting the recent "Wal-mart Get on the Shelf" competition.

"The generous spirit of Highland County makes this a wonderful place to live and do business, and we greatly appreciate your contribution," Pence said.