November is National Home Care Month

In recognition of November as National Home Care Month, county commissioners presented a proclamation to Highland District Hospital's Home Health Services RNs Kathleen Taylor, Ellen Zink and Hazel Smith and HDH CEO Jim Baer at Wednesday's board meeting.

Baer thanked commissioners Jeremy Shaffer, Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst and commended the hospital's Home Health Services program.

"We're very proud of them and the work they do," Baer said. "We appreciate all that they do and we appreciate you (commissioners) for recognizing them."

Home Health Services was recently named among the top 500 agencies in the nation, earning HomeCare 2013 Elite status.

HomeCare Elite ranks the top-performing home health care providers in the United States.

This annual review identifies the top 25 percent of agencies, ranked by an analysis of performance measures in quality outcomes, quality improvement and financial performance.

Highland District Hospital’s Home Health Services also ranked in the top 6 percent, nationally, in the 2010 annual report.

For more information about Highland District Hospital’s Home Health Services, call (937) 393-6371 or visit www.hdh.org.

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• In other business, commissioners are accepting comments from Salem Township residents regarding the township's zoning regulations.

Wilkin said that he and Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins met with Salem Township trustees and discussed the "trouble keeping a zoning board and an appeals board."

"We need some direction from Salem Township trustees, or this board (the county commission) can do away with the zoning," Wilkin said, basing this on a legal opinion from Collins.

"We have a company in Salem Township, they need a zoning change, but we don't have a zoning board," Wilkin said. "A former board member said 'There's too much in it (the zoning regulations). It doesn't fit our township.'"

No action was taken on the Salem Township zoning ordinance. However, commissioners will accept comments from township residents and revisit the issue at their Wednesday, Nov. 20 board meeting. The matter also will be on the "open discussion" portion of the Nov. 13 commission meeting, Wilkin said.

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• Commissioners received a letter of resignation from Richard L. Rammel, who has worked in maintenance and other areas at the Highland County Justice Center for the past 12 years.

Rammel is resigning effective Nov. 14. He thanked Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward and the commissioners "for the opportunities you have provided me during the last 12 years. I have enjoyed working for the Highland County Justice Center."

Commissioners said they are negotiating an agreement with Chuck Taylor from the Hi-TEC Center to fill the vacancy, and also are talking with a Senior Community Services worker to replace some of Taylor's current hours.

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• Commissioners entered into two executive sessions Wednesday, one for personnel matters and one for property discussions.