Commissioners invited to inaugural Chamber event; CCAO energy program considered

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton were invited to an inaugural Highland County Chamber of Commerce event and considered joining the County Commissioners Association of Ohio’s energy program during their Wednesday, Oct. 2 meeting.

Chamber of Commerce Director Jamie Wheeler discussed the STEEL (Strengthening Together Experienced and Emerging Leaders) Conference, which will be held Tuesday, Oct. 22 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Patriot Center at Southern State Community College, 100 Hobart Drive, Hillsboro.

“The goal of this is r

eally to cultivate our emerging leaders, those kind of newer into the workforce, or maybe they've been there for a while, but you can tell they just need one little extra push and they could be really great,” Wheeler said.

This is the first year for the event, which Wheeler said was “created to energize and strengthen Highland County’s business community” and has been in the planning stages for “almost two years.

“As I kept meeting with businesses, some things just kept sticking in my head,” Wheeler told commissioners. “People were asking us for a leadership conference or an event. I could see a lot of new employees were struggling to kind of find their fit, either within their job, their organization or their community, and we have a lot of employees in our county looking at retirement the next five to 10 years, and they keep saying, ‘well, who's going to replace me?’”

Wheeler said a Chamber of Commerce board meeting in July 2023 “sparked a discussion that continued with about a week of email exchanges” where they decided to put on this event.

Doors will open at 11 a.m., and lunch will be served starting at 11:30 a.m. Following welcoming remarks and icebreakers, the crowd will hear a keynote address from Jordan Montgomery, a performance coach, leadership expert and writer.

According to a press release by Wheeler, “From small-town Iowa to a dominant force in the performance coaching industry, Montgomery travels the country speaking and coaching executives at Fortune 500 companies, professional athletes and sales professionals.

“Montgomery is an accomplished business leader who has managed top-performing sales teams in the financial services industry. Montgomery will be presenting: The Art of Encouragement. His message will be rooted in the idea of helping other people be seen, valued and understood.”

Wheeler told commissioners said that it “is really a big deal that we could get him booked.

“He speaks all over the world to crowds of probably 20 to 30,000,” she said.

After Montgomery’s address, an “Experienced and Emerging Leader Panel” discussion will be held at the conference, featuring area pastor Matt Burns, school superintendent Quincey Gray and business owners Nathan Shafer and Austin Trueblood, “to share their stories of triumphs, tribulations, things that they went through,” Wheeler said.

“Some of them have led change in their organization as it was an uphill battle,” she said. “They're going to share some of that. We basically just want everyone to know, ‘oh, there's resources right here in Highland County of people that have have struggled or triumphed, and I can reach out to them for help.’”

According to Wheeler, “Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased by visiting the Chamber office at 129 North High Street in Hillsboro, calling (937) 393-1111, or can be purchased online at www.thehighlandchamber.com with an additional fee.” The deadline to purchase a ticket is Oct. 15.

“It's open to the world,” Wheeler said. “You don't have to be a Chamber member to come. We've actually even invited our surrounding counties and their Chamber memberships and their businesses.”

In response to a question from Daniels, Wheeler said they are hoping to have 300 people in attendance.

“It's hard for me to convey the excitement and what's going to happen at this event,” she said. “This committee has worked really hard for basically a year and a half to put it together, and they've got some really great things planned.”

On behalf of that committee, Wheeler read a statement from Trueblood, who is the event chair.

“He wrote, ‘Harvest is a big topic in our community right now,’” Wheeler said. “‘When our crops don't yield as expected, we don't sit back and blame the seed. We examine the environment, we look at the soil, the weather, the care we've given them, and it's kind of the same thing with leadership. If we want to raise the next generation of leaders, we can't point fingers at the seed.

“‘Instead, we have to create an environment where they can grow, thrive and reach their full potential, and just like a bountiful harvest, strong leadership comes from nurturing, guiding and ensuring that the conditions are ripe for development.’ And he went on to say, ‘Leaders aren't born, they're cultivated, so now is the time for our experienced leaders here in the community to step up and unite with our emerging leaders to build a future where we all can thrive.’”

Along with networking at the event itself, Wheeler said that an after-conference happy hour will take place at The Porch, which “is not mandatory but highly encouraged” for more discussion with area business representatives.

Daniels asked “how people are reaching out” and whether local business leaders are “encouraging people to show up.

“A little bit, and that's kind of why I'm here today, is to ask everyone to encourage a little more,” Wheeler said. “Seek out some people and say, ‘Hey, I think you'd be good for this.’

“Now I also know, on the flip side of that, your experienced leaders — you never stop learning, so there's no age cutoff. There's no ‘you’ve been in the workforce for 30 years, you can't come.’ You're still welcome, because we know we can learn from you, and they could probably learn from someone younger than them.”

Commissioners thanked Wheeler for the update.

“I think what you're doing is great, and Austin kind of hit the nail on the head there,” Daniels said.

“It falls right into the workforce development that you've been working on,” Britton added. “I think it's a great thing. Hopefully the businesses will maybe take some of those people that they're thinking could be leaders for them and have them come.”

On a different note, Wheeler said the Highland County Chamber is “doing a little bit more to reach out with our surrounding counties,” with a recent “rural connections networking event” with Brown and Clermont counties hosted in Hillsboro attended by over 70 individuals. Daniels said it was a “beneficial” event where he had the “opportunity to talk to several people from neighboring counties.”

In other discussion:

• County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) Assistant Director John Leutz and representatives of Palmer Energy met with commissioners as they continue to weigh options for their next energy contract.

As previously reported, representatives from three other companies have given presentations to commissioners in recent months.

According to the Palmer Energy site (palmerenergy.com), "The County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAOSC) partnered with Palmer Energy Company to help manage a natural gas and electric program for member counties. This program was designed specifically to help counties save money on their natural gas and electric bills by utilizing the strength of group buying.  

“By joining together, counties can leverage their buying power when shopping the market, thus securing the best deals possible.”

Commissioners previously considered this option in 2022 when shopping for their most recent energy contract before opting to continue with their existing provider, Muirfield Energy.

Leutz told commissioners that there are now 74 counties in the state that participate in this program, with Clermont recently joining. Later in the meeting, Kirk Mizerek, Executive Vice President for Palmer Energy, said that they “haven't lost anybody that's come into this program since 2009” and encouraged commissioners to speak to representatives from member counties.

“I think every county around you is using it,” Mizerek said.

Leutz added that nearly every county in the state that isn’t “behind municipal power or private power” is already in the program.

“We have a significant volume of business, and therefore, you know, we tend to get pretty good pricing from the suppliers when they respond to RFPs [requests for proposals],” Leutz said.

Mizerek added that “right now the program's around 500 million kilowatt hours total,” which is the reason for “such great pricing.”  He explained that the “CCAO has an energy committee made up of commissioners as well as facilities managers making these decisions, not just me making these decisions for you,” as Mizerek also noted that there is a new “slight change” to how they have done RFPs in the past.

“The change in the program that's starting in May is right now, out on the streets, we have an RFP for all the county facilities at once,” Mizerek said. “Historically, we go out with you and maybe 20 other counties participating.

“We're actually doing it just like we do the natural gas program — which I don't think your county needs to participate in, because you have so much propane and other stuff out there on it — that we're pooling them all together.

“We’re actually asking for multiple-year terms for that entire load, and we'll have the authority to actually — with the energy committees voting, obviously — to transact on that account for everybody,” he continued. “That's a big deal that's changing in the program to get us better pricing, better contractual obligations, along with that.”

Britton said the county is aware that “lots of changes” are coming, as the representatives that addressed commissioners over the summer spoke about changes to the capacity auction that will increase energy costs.

“We gave a warning immediately to all the counties that are participating in the program that these capacity charges are coming on your next deal,” Mizerek said. “Most of our deals that we do with the county are called capacity passthrough deals.

“Capacity is what it is, and as it changes, we let you know what it is, and we give you the budgets associated with that capacity change, but you are paying what you truly use, not the other way around.”

“The big thing about our program is we do have access to better pricing, simply because of the market share,” Leutz added. “They look at us as like a commercial, industrial user, as opposed to a small user, and that gives us the ability to also work within the contracts to make sure we get good protection for our members and those that are in the program.”

Daniels asked if there are “other benefits,” such as energy efficiency programs, offered though the CCAO, or if not, if they provided any kind of advice on other companies’ programs.

“We do this for you within reason,” Mizerek said. “We'll give you a quick little once-over, ‘Yeah, that doesn't make sense’ [or] ‘Yes, that makes sense.’”

“Most of those programs are, ‘We'll spend money to upgrade this or that or that, and then you'll recover the cost due to the reduced energy payments,’” Leutz added. “We don't do that. We will look at those and evaluate those if someone brings a proposal to you, we’re more than happy to look at it.”

Leute said that another benefit of joining their pool is the “overcommunication” from CCAO and Palmer Energy.

“We don't go away,” he said. “We're here 24/7 for you. You’ll get a weekly report from us on what's going on the energy markets, just so you actually have a better understanding.

“The other part of it is we do budgeting for you. We analyze your consumption, and we'll give you an annual budget projection so you can more easily build your county budget, having a better estimation of your utility costs.”

Daniels asked what the “window for participation” would be.

“Our bid is actually out on electricity right now,” Mizerek said. “I can add it to you very quickly.”

However, Mizerek told commissioners that the county is “either in or you’re not,” and that Palmer Energy “can't put your load in this deal and withdraw it after you decide to go in another direction.”

“If you guys want to go forward with us, we need to have you sign the collective agreement, and you have to be assured that you're with us so that we can move forward. Because last year we had some problems in that area, and we had competing bids, and it just doesn't work for us that way,” Leutz added.

The group left paperwork for commissioners to sign should they decide to join the CCAO’s pool. Daniels said they will “look this over, and if we decide to do this, we’ll probably put this on [the agenda] for next week or the week after.”

• Commissioners dedicated a portion of their pandemic relief funds to two projects at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, with one also benefiting the Job & Family Services agency.

Via resolution, commissioners voted 3-0 to direct a portion of the County’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (CLFRF) payment to the Highland County Justice Center Carpet Replacement Project in the amount of $21,000. Also approved was a contract with Spectra Contract Flooring for carpet replacement at the Justice Center.

“That carpet’s been in there since the beginning of time, and the pictures that [Sheriff Sanders] sent certainly show that it’s worn and needs replaced,” Daniels said.

Via resolution, commissioners agreed to direct a portion of the County’s CLFRF payment to the Timekeeping and Scheduling Software Project for Highland County Sheriff’s Office & JFS in the amount of $16,000. Daniels said that will cover “the upfront cost of installation” of the Right Stuff Software, which both departments want to utilize.

Also approved were two separate contracts with the Right Stuff Software Corporation, with one being a software license agreement and the other being an application hosting agreement.

In an unrelated contract related to the HCSO, commissioners approved a one-year extension to their existing contract with Aramark Correctional Services for food services at the jail.

• Also approved was a change order from Doll Layman, LTD for their ongoing work at the Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plan, delaying the substantial completion date from the end of September to the end of October.

“They had a couple late deliveries of some parts,” Daniels said. “They need a 30-day extension get us to substantial completion by the end of October.

“They've been good contractors to work with, and they're wrapping that project up pretty quick.”

• Highland County mobility manager Carl Rayburn gave a brief update on their Work Ride Solutions program, which started Monday.

Through a national grant, FRS is offering free rides to and from work, now through Nov. 1.

“Yesterday, we had 12 call-ins, and then I went out to the homeless shelter yesterday and talked with the folks there and signed up a few,” Rayburn said. “That's pretty good for the first day. We're expecting a lot more. It was kind of slow ahead of time, but we think that a lot of people were just thinking based off the dates on the flyer that they had to wait until the 30th to call in.”

In response to a question from Daniels, Rayburn also reminded the community that they are offering free rides to vote, either at the Board of Elections for early voting or at their precincts on Election Day.

• Daniels noted that the Bureau of Motor Vehicles office has reached out to discuss their lease in the Hi-TEC building.

“They have recognized that the cost of utilities have gone up, and other things, and have asked us if we intend on making any adjustments for those to their lease,” Daniels said. “They've got a there's a window that they're allowed to request additional funds from their funding agency. “We need to, again, look at our utility costs and see what they've gone up, and apportion that amount to see if there's justification for an increase or not.”

• Following their regular meeting, commissioners held several other sessions, including: an executive session to discuss compensation; a work session with county ARPA funding coordinator Nicole Oberrecht; and a meeting with McCarty Associates to discuss renovations to the Administration Building.

In other action, commissioners made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A request from Victim Witness for a budget modification within the 2540 Victim Witness Assistance fund in the amount of $65.84.

• A request from Victim Witness for a budget modification within the 2540 Victim Witness Assistance fund in the amount of $982.35.

• A request from Human Resources for a budget modification within the 1000 County General fund in the amount of $1,000.

• A budget modification within the 1000 County General fund in the amount of $5,000.

• A budget modification within the 5030 Rocky Fork Sewer fund in the amount of $16,000.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to County – Advances Out in the amount of $12,926.45. Also requested is an advance to Upgrade RFL in the amount of $12,926.45. Also requested is an additional appropriation to 4240 in the amount of $12,926.45.

• A resolution to authorize the County to sell surplus equipment at public auction on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. located at the Highland County Fairgrounds.

• A resolution, per the request of the Highland County Sheriff's Office, to donate a 2014 Dodge Charger to the Adams County Commissioners/Adams County Sheriff's Office per Ohio Revised Code 307.12(D) for the use at their schools.

• A resolution authorizing the County Sheriff to declare certain items no longer needed by the County and obsolete under ORC 307-12(A)(1).

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within Emergency Management (2780) fund in the amount of $43,469.20.

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