Commissioners issue proclamations for 4-H Week, DD Awareness Month

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades issued proclamations in honor of Highland County 4-H Week and DD Awareness Month during their Wednesday, March 4 meeting.

Accepting the Highland County 4-H Week proclamation were Ohio State University Extension Educator of 4-H Youth Development Danielle Combs and local 4-H members and Junior Leaders Hailey Cornett, Jamison Miracle and Emma Sanderson.

Cornett told commissioners that in honor of 4-H Week, the Junior Leaders were holding recruitment events with area third graders.

“We will be hitting every third grade classroom in the county,” Combs added. “We will kickstart today with three schools at Lynchburg, Bright and Leesburg. We will hit Hillsboro Christian, Rainsboro and Greenfield tomorrow, and then we have to make up Hillsboro. They have that snow day on Monday, so we've got to figure out a new plan. 

“Ohio 4-H Week continues into next week, so it's great. We're going to keep the festivities going.”

Roades asked the group how they “persuade a third grader” to join 4-H.

“You just kind of make it fun,” Cornett said. “You make them sing songs. We do some line dances. We talk about all the different projects that they can take. They can take over 200 projects.”

In addition, Combs said that several Highland County representatives will be attending the Ohio 4-H Conference, while Cornett said she will be among the speakers at Friday’s Ag Is Everyone’s Business event at the Southern State Community College Patriot Center.

Daniels asked about the number of participants, and adult volunteers, in 4-H in the county.

“Last year, we were just over 600 [participants],” Combs said. “We should be well over 700 this year.” Combs added there were “130 to 140” volunteer leaders as well.

After speaking with the group, Britton read the proclamation, recognizing 4-H’s impact in the Highland County community for 103 years and encouraging all citizens to join in the observance of 4-H Week.

The deadline to join 4-H is April 1. To learn more or get involved with 4-H in Highland County, visit highland.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development or facebook.com/HighlandCounty4H.

Immediately after the 4-H Week proclamation, commissioners recognized March as DD Awareness Month. That proclamation was accepted by representatives from the Board of DD and Highco, including Nathan Boatman, Mona Bowen, Jessee Cundiff, Andrew McCollum, Brylee Thornburgh and Molly Warnock.

Warnock, the Board of DD Community First Director, said the goal of the month is “encouraging the community to recognize all of the strengths, value and contributions that individuals with developmental disabilities bring to the table. 

“It affirms a commitment to building our community where inclusion is upheld through accessibility, respect and meaningful participation,” Warnock said. “This month also calls the attention of the shared responsibility that we all have of ensuring that every person is supported to live an independent life, to live a self-directed life and to live a fulfilling life.”

To celebrate the month, Warnock told commissioners that a number of exciting events are planned, including the annual basketball game between the Highland County Special Olympics Wildcats and Hillsboro basketball players Thursday, March 12. Another sport enjoyed by many is an inclusive bowling league that competes on Thursday evenings at Highland Lanes, Warnock said.

The third annual This Is Me event will be held Friday, March 13 at Hillsboro Elementary. The gala is a formal dance for individuals with developmental disabilities, which includes a walk on the red carpet, plus other fun activities throughout the evening. Business, organizations and individuals in the community are teaming up again this year to provide free services such as food, hair, makeup, nails and even formalwear and jewelry for attendees.

After meeting with the group, Britton read a proclamation recognizing March as DD Awareness Month in Highland County and encouraging “all citizens to realize that individuals with developmental disabilities should be afforded opportunities in the community, including full access to housing, employment and recreational activities.”

In other discussion:

• Commissioners declined to take action on an invoice from McCarty Associates for their work on two recent county construction projects, pending further review.

According to Britton, the invoice was for “project closeout reconciliation” for work on the commissioners’ meeting room and on the records storage building on Beech Street.

“‘To date, McCarty Associates received payments in the amount of $29,913.33,’” Britton read from the invoice. “‘Our proposed established base fee was $23,000, with bidding and negotiations and construction administration services to be billed hourly. We estimate these phases at $12,000.’”

Britton said that the invoice also listed the “total cost of services” as being $47,188.33, which “results in an additional service amount of $17,275 beyond payment received” to date.

Daniels said he thought the additional fees were a result of “arbitration” between the county and the contractor for the records building. He recommended that commissioners receive “some additional clarification” before taking action on the invoice.

• Britton said commissioners also received a notice from Pike Natural Gas advising homeowners to check their interior gas lines.

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A notice of award to Crane Pumps & Systems, in the amount of $323,500, for the procurement of grinder pump cores, controls and appurtenances for Rocky Fork Lake.

• A letter of support on behalf of Highland County Community Action Organization, as they are seeking federal grant funding for the shared workspace in Greenfield.

• An extension of the 2026 mowing contract agreement between commissioners and Knoblauch Lawn Care.

• An additional appropriation from unanticipated revenue within the 1000 County General fund – County Court in the amount of $267.60.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 2193 OneOhio fund in the amount of $300.

• A resolution to appoint the 2026 board members to the Highland County Local Corrections Planning Board and Reentry Coalition.

• A resolution to grant authorization for listed “then and now” purchase orders and authorizing the county auditor to issue warrants for their payment.

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