Ohio Department of Health gives 'blessing' for Help Me Grow expansion in Adams, Brown

In a brief session Wednesday, the Highland County Board of Commissioners passed two resolutions and updated the county on the proposed Help Me Grow program expansion.

With commissioners Tom Horst and Jeremy Shaffer present, and commission president Shane Wilkin on vacation, the following resolutions were passed by 2-0 votes:

• A budget modification for Highland County Job and Family Services within the Public Assistance Fund in the amount of $20,000; and,

• An additional appropriation of $1,195.50 to the spay and neuter program.

In other business, Shaffer reported that the Ohio Department of Health "gave their blessing to move forward with Adams and Brown county Help Me Grow home visits."

According to the state of Ohio, Help Me Grow is Ohio's birth to age 3 system that provides state and federal funds to county Family and Children First Councils to be used in conjunction with state, local and other federal funds to implement and maintain a coordinated, community-based infrastructure that promotes trans-disciplinary, family-centered services for expectant parents, newborns, infants and toddlers and their families.

The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention Services is the lead agency administering the HMG program in Ohio, and Heather Gibson is the director of the Highland County program.

Horst reported that the final inspections for the remodeled elevator in the Highland County Administration Building are scheduled for this week.

Horst also said that the retrieval and disposal of records from the Highland County Annex Building on North High Street will begin the week of July 22, after which the annex will be for sale, either by sealed bids or a public auction, he said.

Shaffer reported that he will be attending a special meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio Board of Directors to discuss and finalize the selection of a new executive director.

The CCAO Executive Committee has unanimously selected Suzanne Dulaney.

"As a board member, I can say we are looking for more than a quality leader; we are looking for the next face of the association, someone with the talent to continue the successes of the CCAO," Shaffer said. "Suzanne Dulaney fits the bill, and it should be decided on July 12."

As a follow-up to a July 8 announcement by Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin (see: http://www.highlandcountypress.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=20&ArticleID=18870) that the city administration has met with Highland County commissioners "to establish a city/county partnership to share resources and reduce costs," both Horst and Shaffer said they have not been involved in these discussions.

"I was not involved in any meeting (for a proposed city/county partnership)," Shaffer said. "None took place that I’m aware of."

According to Horst, Commission President Shane Wilkin and SSD Todd Wilkin have met "over breakfast and lunch" to discuss possible partnerships on medical insurance and the Hobart Drive roadway.

Hillsboro City Councilman David Shoemaker said city council has had no formal discussions on the proposed partnerships.

The commissioners adjourned at 8:36 a.m. The next meeting will be Wednesday, July 17.