Commissioners, Solid Waste District review plans for new recycling site

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades met with representatives from the RPFH Solid Waste District to discuss progress on the county’s new recycling mega site during their Tuesday, Nov. 10 meeting.

Their weekly meeting was held a day earlier than usual due to the Veterans Day holiday falling on a Wednesday.

As previously reported, commissioners purchased 212 Hobart Drive, the former Schwann’s building, at a cost of $275,000 in August 2025 with a plan to use the site as a county maintenance building and a central, fenced-in recycling location for the community. Since then, the county has been coordinating with the Solid Waste District, which is funding the project in their 2026 and 2027 budget cycles. 

In August 2026, commissioners reviewed and approved quotes from the SWD that totaled $60,586, including $14,987 from Detillion Landscaping; $26,343 from Detillion Fencing Company; and $19,256 from Pritchard Electric. 

RPFH Solid Waste District Deputy Director Erica Tucker said Tuesday that the fence around the site has been installed, as commissioners have also noted in recent weeks, while they still need to have “two gate motors installed.”

Roades questioned whether they should limit the hours for the site or whether they could continue to maintain it as a 24-hour site and avoid shutting the gates. He also pointed out the high cost of purchasing and installing the gate motors, including the electricity involved. 

“We could try it, I guess,” Tucker said, and added that if expense was the issue, the SWD could pursue a grant if one is available. 

Britton said that he was concerned about people dumping items at the site if it is left open.

“The whole purpose of recycling is to make things easy,” Roades said. “It’s very convenient now. You can drive in and drive out.”

Britton suggested keeping the site open until around 10 p.m., and Tucker said that their other sites are currently open from 5 a.m. until 10 p.m., trying to accommodate individuals with various work shifts.

“No one’s complained about the time,” she said. “You really don’t need to be there past that time anyway.” 

However, after more discussion, Britton said he was fine with trying a 24-hour site and then switching to limited hours if they have issues with dumping. 
 
If they do purchase gate motors, Daniels suggested that the SWD could look into 12-volt solar batteries to limit the amount of electricity needed at the site.

They also discussed the need for security cameras for the area, as Daniels said “there’s got to be a camera out there if you’re going to leave that open.”

“Do you want us to have like our own separate camera system, or do you want to tie it into the building, whatever existing surveillance system you have there?” SWD assistant director Lauren Shreve asked.

Commissioners said they thought they could connect it to their existing system. Tucker suggested that if commissioners had already committed $3,200 toward the project, they could use those funds to purchase and install the camera. 

Signage for the site was also discussed, including one that lists hours of operation, which could change depending on if they keep the site open 24 hours. 

In other discussion: 

• Commissioners approved a $62,464 contractor’s estimate pay application for Mechanical Construction Co. Inc. for phase II Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements.

“They’re moving right along,” Daniels said. “Some of the reasons for some of the delay is there were parts that needed to be fabricated that they were waiting on. Also, they were waiting on cooler weather to change out some of the parts in there because they shut down the UV filters when it gets so cold, so they're going to change out those UV filters after the weather delay.”

• Commissioners said they would be holding a special meeting, which involves an executive session, on Nov. 12 to discuss the “changing of the guard” for Highland County Common Pleas Court, as Britton said, with General Division Judge-elect John Judkins and Juvenile/Probate Judge-elect Denny Kirk. 

Commissioners will also be holding their next weekly meeting a day early, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, due to a scheduling conflict. 

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A guaranty agreement for a $94,000 SIB loan for the Highland County Airport hangar construction project.

• A request from Common Pleas Court for a budget modification within the 2295 Common Pleas Court Budget in the amount of $500.

• A transfer from Transfers Out to 4220 Airport Capital Improvement in the amount of $11,987. Also requested is additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 4220 Hangar/Taxiway Expansion line in the amount of $11,987.

• A request from Board of DD for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 2490 Help
Me Grow – HV/CC fund in the amount of $14,000.

• A request from Board of DD for a budget modification within the 2100 Board of DD fund in the amount of $127,000.

• A resolution authorizing the approval to serve as guarantor for an Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) loan not to exceed the amount of $94,000 for the completion of the hangar construction project and authorizing executions of all necessary documents.

• A request from Victim Witness for an additional appropriation from unanticipated revenue within the 2540 Victim Witness fund in the amount of $3,100.

• A request from the Treasurer requests for a budget modification within the 7200 DETAC Treasurer fund in the amount of
$10,500.

• A resolution to authorize a “then and now” purchase order and to authorize the county auditor to issue warrants for payment.

• A resolution to authorize the creation of the following line item within the 1000 County General Fund – Prosecutor: Contracts & Services.

• A request from the Board of Elections for a budget modification within the 1000 County General Fund – BOE in the amount of $11,545.

• A budget modification within the 5030 Rocky Fork Lake Sewer fund in the amount of $10,000.