Commissioners discuss Leesburg, Greenfield industrial parks; Children Services levy to go to Board of Elections for November ballot
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Commissioners Jeff Duncan, Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst voted unanimously to send a five-year, 1.9-mill Children Services levy to the Highland County Board of Elections for placement on the November 2016 general election ballot.
During the board's Wednesday, July 20 meeting, Wilkin said the levy is projected to bring in $1,479,795 annually.
The current Children Services levy generates $520,000 annually.
“On a $100,000 residential property, a 1.9-mill levy would cost the taxpayer $59.85 a year," according to Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley.
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• In other business, Wilkin updated the board on last week's economic development meetings at the industrial parks in Leesburg and Greenfield.
Wilkin and Nicole Oberrecht from the commissioners' office met with representatives of InSite Consulting LLC of Greer, S.C., JobsOhio, Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth Project Manager Katy Farber and village officials.
"We went over the new template for economic development and found that Leesburg will be among the first 10 parks certified in the state program," Wilkin said. "InSite recommends that we come up with a new name or rebranding of the parks – not to include the town names. They recommend against naming the parks after the town they're in."
There were no immediate suggestions as to possible names for either park, and Wilkin said that the villages would be included in any discussions.
"Nicole did an excellent job getting the template ready," Horst said.
Wilkin said of approximately 500 potential manufacturing sites in the state, the industrial parks in Leesburg and Greenfield remain among the top-ranked in Ohio.
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• Duncan also informed the board of a recent meeting with Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera and AT&T for possible upgrades in the telephone and communications system at the Justice Center.
Duncan said AT&T is looking at bringing in a fiber-optic network service to the Justice Center and doing away with copper wiring for a more efficient service. "AT&T will be getting back with us," he said.
* * *
Commissioners thanked Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth for correcting a water-related erosion issue at the Justice Center parking area. Horst, Duncan, Barrera and Otworth met recently to address the issue.
"The engineer's office is taking care of it and we thank them," Horst said.
* * *
• Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner addressed recent health concerns from as many as 39 county residents who recently visited Long's Retreat.
Warner explained that a statewide system provides data on frequently occurring health problems within a given location. The local symptoms reported generated an automatic alert, Warner said, both in Highland County and in Pike County. He said Pike County has reported 150 cases.
"Pike County is the lead on this, and they're working with the ODA (Ohio Department of Agriculture), the Ohio EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and Long's," Warner said.
Thus far, according to Warner, they're still collecting information and searching for a possible cause for the GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms. Anyone who has visited the park recently and experiences similar symptoms is asked to call the Board of Health at (937) 393-1941.
* * *
• Auditor Bill Fawley reported that the July 2016 permissive sales tax revenues (for May sales) were $571,896.23, up from $522,071.93 one year ago. For the year, the sales tax revenues are up $153,428 for the same period in 2015.
During the board's Wednesday, July 20 meeting, Wilkin said the levy is projected to bring in $1,479,795 annually.
The current Children Services levy generates $520,000 annually.
“On a $100,000 residential property, a 1.9-mill levy would cost the taxpayer $59.85 a year," according to Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley.
* * *
• In other business, Wilkin updated the board on last week's economic development meetings at the industrial parks in Leesburg and Greenfield.
Wilkin and Nicole Oberrecht from the commissioners' office met with representatives of InSite Consulting LLC of Greer, S.C., JobsOhio, Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth Project Manager Katy Farber and village officials.
"We went over the new template for economic development and found that Leesburg will be among the first 10 parks certified in the state program," Wilkin said. "InSite recommends that we come up with a new name or rebranding of the parks – not to include the town names. They recommend against naming the parks after the town they're in."
There were no immediate suggestions as to possible names for either park, and Wilkin said that the villages would be included in any discussions.
"Nicole did an excellent job getting the template ready," Horst said.
Wilkin said of approximately 500 potential manufacturing sites in the state, the industrial parks in Leesburg and Greenfield remain among the top-ranked in Ohio.
* * *
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• Duncan also informed the board of a recent meeting with Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera and AT&T for possible upgrades in the telephone and communications system at the Justice Center.
Duncan said AT&T is looking at bringing in a fiber-optic network service to the Justice Center and doing away with copper wiring for a more efficient service. "AT&T will be getting back with us," he said.
* * *
Commissioners thanked Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth for correcting a water-related erosion issue at the Justice Center parking area. Horst, Duncan, Barrera and Otworth met recently to address the issue.
"The engineer's office is taking care of it and we thank them," Horst said.
* * *
• Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner addressed recent health concerns from as many as 39 county residents who recently visited Long's Retreat.
Warner explained that a statewide system provides data on frequently occurring health problems within a given location. The local symptoms reported generated an automatic alert, Warner said, both in Highland County and in Pike County. He said Pike County has reported 150 cases.
"Pike County is the lead on this, and they're working with the ODA (Ohio Department of Agriculture), the Ohio EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and Long's," Warner said.
Thus far, according to Warner, they're still collecting information and searching for a possible cause for the GI (gastrointestinal) symptoms. Anyone who has visited the park recently and experiences similar symptoms is asked to call the Board of Health at (937) 393-1941.
* * *
• Auditor Bill Fawley reported that the July 2016 permissive sales tax revenues (for May sales) were $571,896.23, up from $522,071.93 one year ago. For the year, the sales tax revenues are up $153,428 for the same period in 2015.