Commissioners announce RFL sewerage increase; proclaim Influenza Vaccination Month
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Following a recommendation by Steve Canter of Environmental Engineering Services in Lebanon, Highland County commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan voted 3-0 to approve a $1.50 monthly rate increase for the Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater District.
Last December, commissioners voted unanimously to maintain sewerage fees at their current level for Rocky Fork Lake area residents.
"It's been two years since the last increase," Horst said at the Wednesday, Nov. 16 commission meeting. "We need to continue the quality of service and maintenance of everything."
"I don't see how we get around it," Duncan said.
The current rate is $34.50 per month. The new rate will be $36 per month for an annual increase of $18.
"Steve (Canter) and Frank (Leone) of Environmental Engineering Services did a survey and Rocky Fork is still pretty comparable (or below) other areas," Wilkin said.
The user fees were set at $13.50 per month in 2000. On Dec. 5, 2012, commissioners voted, 3-0, to raise the sewerage fees from $29 per month to $33.50 per month, a 16-percent increase, for 2013. On Dec. 4, 2013, commissioners voted, 2-1, to increase the monthly fees by $1 – to the present $34.50 per month – for 2014, where they have remained. Environmental Engineering Services had initially proposed an increase of $8.50 per month or a 29-percent rate hike for 2013 and beyond.
Commissioners credited Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and Kathryn Allen, civil and criminal legal assistant for the prosecutor's office, for devoting considerable time and energy toward making collections of the delinquent user fees.
"If not for Anneka and Kathryn, the increases would be pretty substantial," Wilkin said.
"Their efforts help tremendously," Horst said.
After discussion, Horst said "I would make a motion to increase it $1.50."
"I would rely on Environmental Engineering's recommendation and second that motion," Duncan said.
"They've been super-good partners and I would trust their recommendation as well," Wilkin said.
The motion passed, 3-0. The new rate takes effect Jan. 1.
* * *
• In other business, commissioners announced the county has received a grant from the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) for a conceptual development plan for the industrial parks in Greenfield and Leesburg.
"This is a 2-to-1 funding grant we've worked through Katy Farber (the APEG project manager serving Adams, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties)," Wilkin said. "This will help the site certification process, and Leesburg still has a good chance to be the first to be certified in the state."
In other economic development news, commissioners also discussed a meeting with local manufacturers that was held last week in Greenfield. According to Wilkin, Southern State Community College has applied for a federal America’s Promise Grant to aid local job training efforts.
The U.S. Department of Labor has made available approximately $100 million in America’s Promise Job-Driven Grants to develop and grow regional partnerships between workforce agencies, education and training providers and employers in a variety of industries such as information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, financial services and educational services.
"The grant has not been awarded yet, to my knowledge," Wilkin said.
* * *
• Commissioners presented a proclamation to the Highland County Health Department, proclaiming December as Influenza Vaccination Month in Highland County.
Health Commissioner Jared Warner and nurses Karen Vanzant, Katy Lewis, Ebbie Van Pelt and Barbara Eaglin accepted the proclamation.
Warner also encouraged everyone to have a flu shot.
"This will help get the word out that now is the time to get a flu shot," Warner said.
The shots are available at the Health Department for $25 for those without insurance and no charge for people with insurance, Warner said.
* * *
• Commissioners announced that the County Administration Building will be closed Friday, Nov. 25.
* * *
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A request from Common Pleas for a modification in the Common Pleas Court from Supplies to Telephone in the amount of $50.
• A modification within County from Transfers Out to SCORJDC (Juvenile Detention Center) in the amount of $10,000.
• A request from Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a modification within the Public Assistance funds from Transfers to Travel & Expense in the amount of $5,000.
• A request from Probation to revise the budget within the PSI Writing Budget and to establish a new line item, Unspent Fund, and appropriate $565.88.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item within Pre-Trial Supervision Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $839.46.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item within the Prosecutorial Diversion Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $343.72.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item in the Jail Diversion Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $4,854.54.
• A request from Probation to appropriate to Prosecutorial Diversion Fund, Operating Expense in the amount of $910.
• A request from Probation for a modification within Probation Services, Budget in the amount of $6,000.
• A request for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Capital Improvements, General in the amount of $182,722.
• A request from Veterans Services for a modification within the Veterans Service Budget.
Last December, commissioners voted unanimously to maintain sewerage fees at their current level for Rocky Fork Lake area residents.
"It's been two years since the last increase," Horst said at the Wednesday, Nov. 16 commission meeting. "We need to continue the quality of service and maintenance of everything."
"I don't see how we get around it," Duncan said.
The current rate is $34.50 per month. The new rate will be $36 per month for an annual increase of $18.
"Steve (Canter) and Frank (Leone) of Environmental Engineering Services did a survey and Rocky Fork is still pretty comparable (or below) other areas," Wilkin said.
The user fees were set at $13.50 per month in 2000. On Dec. 5, 2012, commissioners voted, 3-0, to raise the sewerage fees from $29 per month to $33.50 per month, a 16-percent increase, for 2013. On Dec. 4, 2013, commissioners voted, 2-1, to increase the monthly fees by $1 – to the present $34.50 per month – for 2014, where they have remained. Environmental Engineering Services had initially proposed an increase of $8.50 per month or a 29-percent rate hike for 2013 and beyond.
Commissioners credited Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and Kathryn Allen, civil and criminal legal assistant for the prosecutor's office, for devoting considerable time and energy toward making collections of the delinquent user fees.
"If not for Anneka and Kathryn, the increases would be pretty substantial," Wilkin said.
"Their efforts help tremendously," Horst said.
After discussion, Horst said "I would make a motion to increase it $1.50."
"I would rely on Environmental Engineering's recommendation and second that motion," Duncan said.
"They've been super-good partners and I would trust their recommendation as well," Wilkin said.
The motion passed, 3-0. The new rate takes effect Jan. 1.
* * *
• In other business, commissioners announced the county has received a grant from the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) for a conceptual development plan for the industrial parks in Greenfield and Leesburg.
"This is a 2-to-1 funding grant we've worked through Katy Farber (the APEG project manager serving Adams, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton counties)," Wilkin said. "This will help the site certification process, and Leesburg still has a good chance to be the first to be certified in the state."
In other economic development news, commissioners also discussed a meeting with local manufacturers that was held last week in Greenfield. According to Wilkin, Southern State Community College has applied for a federal America’s Promise Grant to aid local job training efforts.
The U.S. Department of Labor has made available approximately $100 million in America’s Promise Job-Driven Grants to develop and grow regional partnerships between workforce agencies, education and training providers and employers in a variety of industries such as information technology, health care, advanced manufacturing, financial services and educational services.
"The grant has not been awarded yet, to my knowledge," Wilkin said.
* * *
• Commissioners presented a proclamation to the Highland County Health Department, proclaiming December as Influenza Vaccination Month in Highland County.
Health Commissioner Jared Warner and nurses Karen Vanzant, Katy Lewis, Ebbie Van Pelt and Barbara Eaglin accepted the proclamation.
Warner also encouraged everyone to have a flu shot.
"This will help get the word out that now is the time to get a flu shot," Warner said.
The shots are available at the Health Department for $25 for those without insurance and no charge for people with insurance, Warner said.
* * *
• Commissioners announced that the County Administration Building will be closed Friday, Nov. 25.
* * *
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A request from Common Pleas for a modification in the Common Pleas Court from Supplies to Telephone in the amount of $50.
• A modification within County from Transfers Out to SCORJDC (Juvenile Detention Center) in the amount of $10,000.
• A request from Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a modification within the Public Assistance funds from Transfers to Travel & Expense in the amount of $5,000.
• A request from Probation to revise the budget within the PSI Writing Budget and to establish a new line item, Unspent Fund, and appropriate $565.88.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item within Pre-Trial Supervision Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $839.46.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item within the Prosecutorial Diversion Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $343.72.
• A request from Probation to establish a new line item in the Jail Diversion Account, Unspent Funds, and appropriate $4,854.54.
• A request from Probation to appropriate to Prosecutorial Diversion Fund, Operating Expense in the amount of $910.
• A request from Probation for a modification within Probation Services, Budget in the amount of $6,000.
• A request for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Capital Improvements, General in the amount of $182,722.
• A request from Veterans Services for a modification within the Veterans Service Budget.