Commissioner says county needs new economic development office
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Highland County Commissioner Shane Wilkin provided an update on economic development in the county at the monthly Highland County Board of Realtors meeting, Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Hillsboro Ponderosa Banquet Center.
As reported from this week's county commissioners' meeting, Wilkin updated the Board of Realtors on the Community Economic Development Academy (CEDA) seminar that he and County Clerk Nicole Oberrecht attended in March. Oberrecht also attended the Realtors' luncheon.
The academy is sponsored by the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth and funded by AEP Ohio. The purpose of the academy is to help local economic development professionals and key community leaders understand the types of information required and why they must be able to respond quickly to site planners' requests for information.
In May, InSite Consulting LLC of Greer, S.C. was in Highland County, meeting with local manufacturers and touring the industrial park areas in Hillsboro, Leesburg and Greenfield.
“Nicole and I worked on the CEDA plan and some priorities for economic development,” Wilkin said this week. Wilkin said a new proposal for the county has been submitted and they are awaiting potential funding from AEP.
On Thursday, Wilkin announced that after meeting with InSite Consulting, it has been suggested the county needs a new economic development office. The commissioners announced the closing of the county economic development office in March 2010, citing budget limitations.
"We were told we need a stand-alone economic development office, away from the Administration Building and courthouse, with at least two employees," Wilkin said this week. "We (commissioners and Auditor Bill Fawley) are in the process of looking at funding for a new economic development director."
Wilkin also spoke about establishing a more active economic development website for Realtors to list commercial properties.
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In other discussion, Wilkin said that Rocky Fork Lake assessments are estimated at $18.30 per year. A public hearing on RFL assessments will be held Wednesday, Nov. 26 – the day before Thanksgiving – during the weekly commissioners' meeting.
Commissioners will meet on Oct. 29 to approve the Nov. 26 public hearing on the project. A final adoption vote will be scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Property owners who have had recent changes in the total number of parcels they own are asked to notify the commissioners' office at 393-1911.
• Board of Realtors president Diane Uhl spoke about security concerns and steps real estate offices can take to prevent a potentially dangerous situation, such as a communications code system.
Several Realtors suggested obtaining a concealed carry permit. Uhl also encouraged all Realtors to meet new clients at the real estate office for the first time and have clients fill out a client ID form to keep on file with a copy of their driver's licenses.
• Susan Davis-Thompson discussed recent developments in the Hillsboro Uptown Renaissance Project. They are offering a $5,000 match for the facade project in uptown Hillsboro on a first-come, first-served basis. Many buildings have been sold uptown recently, and they are encouraging uptown living, she said, in an effort to revitalize the historic uptown district.
• The board welcomed new members Joyce Shelton of HER Realtors and Stacy Calvin of Classic Real Estate.
• The Board of Realtors enjoyed a Halloween costume party at Ponderosa, with lunch sponsored by Susan Davis Thompson of Preferred Midwest Title/Davis Law Office. Pauline Cameron of Prudential Chambers-Fite Realty won the costume contest.
• A 50/50 drawing was held with proceeds benefiting Samaritan Outreach Services.