Commissioners seek clarification on Board of DD appointment
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Two of the three recently appointed members of the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities accepted their respective oaths of office this week. A third appointee, however, did not.
At the Feb. 29 meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Commission President Shane Wilkin said that new Board of DD members Leo Kuhn and Cheryl Lyle were sworn in, but longtime Highland County law enforcement officer Donnie Barrera was not.
"We're just double-checking to make sure there's no conflict by being a public employee and serving on the board," Wilkin said Wednesday morning.
Wilkin said he believes there's a section of the Ohio Revised Code that addresses if a public official (Barrera is an officer for the Highland County Sheriff's Office) "can hold interest in a public contract."
"We're checking (with legal counsel) to see if a deputy sheriff is compatible with serving on the Board of DD," Commissioner Tom Horst said.
Commissioners had unanimously appointed Leo Kuhn, Cheryl Lyle and Donnie Barrera to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities during their Feb. 1 meeting.
Kuhn and Lyle will serve the unexpired terms that end in December 2013. Barrera, if confirmed, will serve an unexpired term that concludes in December 2012.
Linda Allen was recently re-elected as board president, while Sam Snyder was elected vice president, and Debbie Tissot was elected secretary. Karen Adams also serves on the board.
On Feb. 1, Board of DD Superintendent Fred Williams said he was pleased and excited over the board appointments. "We looked for a balance – business experience, public service experience and ministerial experience. These people have shown a very high interest in serving on the board," he said.
* * *
• In other action at the Feb. 29 meeting, commissioners were informed by Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley that the county audit will be conducted by Millhuff-Stang CPA, Inc. of Portsmouth.
County officials have met with certified public accountant Robyn Roush, who is a vice president and owner of Millhuff-Stang (www.millhuffstangcpa.com).
"They had high marks from other counties," Fawley said.
Fawley said the total cost of the audit would be less than last year and that the auditing firms were reviewed before their respective costs were revealed.
"They were selected on the basis of the criteria and (their credentials) not on costs."
Commissioners signed a memorandum of agreement to accept Millhuff-Stang CPA, Inc.
* * *
• Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward requested commissioners' signatures on a Justice Assistance Grant application for $10,000, with a 10-percent match, which would come from the law enforcement trust fund. There would be no additional general fund expense, the sheriff said.
Ward also requested a memorandum of understanding for a Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) for the sheriff's office.
"This will give us additional resources to communicate with other agencies," Ward said.
The sheriff presented the 2011 HCSO annual report to commissioners and local media, and said if anyone needs a copy, a public records request may be made with the department.
Wilkin pointed out that sheriff sales of real estate were down from the previous year.
"Sheriff's sales are down a total amount of about $1 million," Ward said. "But we still sold a lot of property value – unfortunately."
There also were 490 new concealed carry permits processed in 2011, according to the sheriff's report. This was in addition to 40 permit renewals.
* * *
Commissioners passed five resolutions on 3-0 votes:
• A resolution to rescind a previous Help Me Grow resolution;
• A resolution for a modification in the Help Me Grow budget;
• Two resolutions for vehicle purchases from the Highland County engineer, Dean Otworth; and,
• A resolution for a maintenance contract at the Justice Center with Weller's Plumbing.
A resolution for a temporary advancement of funds from the Office of Homeland Security passed by a 2-0 vote, with Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer abstaining.
"It's not that I necessarily disagree," Shaffer said. "But I didn't have enough information for a yes or no vote."
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At the Feb. 29 meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners, Commission President Shane Wilkin said that new Board of DD members Leo Kuhn and Cheryl Lyle were sworn in, but longtime Highland County law enforcement officer Donnie Barrera was not.
"We're just double-checking to make sure there's no conflict by being a public employee and serving on the board," Wilkin said Wednesday morning.
Wilkin said he believes there's a section of the Ohio Revised Code that addresses if a public official (Barrera is an officer for the Highland County Sheriff's Office) "can hold interest in a public contract."
"We're checking (with legal counsel) to see if a deputy sheriff is compatible with serving on the Board of DD," Commissioner Tom Horst said.
Commissioners had unanimously appointed Leo Kuhn, Cheryl Lyle and Donnie Barrera to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities during their Feb. 1 meeting.
Kuhn and Lyle will serve the unexpired terms that end in December 2013. Barrera, if confirmed, will serve an unexpired term that concludes in December 2012.
Linda Allen was recently re-elected as board president, while Sam Snyder was elected vice president, and Debbie Tissot was elected secretary. Karen Adams also serves on the board.
On Feb. 1, Board of DD Superintendent Fred Williams said he was pleased and excited over the board appointments. "We looked for a balance – business experience, public service experience and ministerial experience. These people have shown a very high interest in serving on the board," he said.
* * *
• In other action at the Feb. 29 meeting, commissioners were informed by Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley that the county audit will be conducted by Millhuff-Stang CPA, Inc. of Portsmouth.
County officials have met with certified public accountant Robyn Roush, who is a vice president and owner of Millhuff-Stang (www.millhuffstangcpa.com).
"They had high marks from other counties," Fawley said.
Fawley said the total cost of the audit would be less than last year and that the auditing firms were reviewed before their respective costs were revealed.
"They were selected on the basis of the criteria and (their credentials) not on costs."
Commissioners signed a memorandum of agreement to accept Millhuff-Stang CPA, Inc.
* * *
• Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward requested commissioners' signatures on a Justice Assistance Grant application for $10,000, with a 10-percent match, which would come from the law enforcement trust fund. There would be no additional general fund expense, the sheriff said.
Ward also requested a memorandum of understanding for a Multi-Agency Radio Communication System (MARCS) for the sheriff's office.
"This will give us additional resources to communicate with other agencies," Ward said.
The sheriff presented the 2011 HCSO annual report to commissioners and local media, and said if anyone needs a copy, a public records request may be made with the department.
Wilkin pointed out that sheriff sales of real estate were down from the previous year.
"Sheriff's sales are down a total amount of about $1 million," Ward said. "But we still sold a lot of property value – unfortunately."
There also were 490 new concealed carry permits processed in 2011, according to the sheriff's report. This was in addition to 40 permit renewals.
* * *
Commissioners passed five resolutions on 3-0 votes:
• A resolution to rescind a previous Help Me Grow resolution;
• A resolution for a modification in the Help Me Grow budget;
• Two resolutions for vehicle purchases from the Highland County engineer, Dean Otworth; and,
• A resolution for a maintenance contract at the Justice Center with Weller's Plumbing.
A resolution for a temporary advancement of funds from the Office of Homeland Security passed by a 2-0 vote, with Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer abstaining.
"It's not that I necessarily disagree," Shaffer said. "But I didn't have enough information for a yes or no vote."
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