Commissioners proclaim 'Clean Up, Fix Up and Pick Up Month' at RFL; grant SWCD request

Commissioners proclaimed the month of April as “Clean Up, Fix Up and Pick Up Month” in honor of the annual initiative to clean up Rocky Fork Lake, headed by Paint Township trustees, the Rocky Fork Community Alliance and Rocky Fork Lake residents and businesses.

Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Jeff Duncan and Tom Horst met with Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard and his wife, Angela, along with Rocky Fork Community Alliance president Diane Uhl, to discuss the annual Rocky Fork Lake Clean-Up project.

The goal throughout the month is for volunteers to help “clean up abandoned junk and properties, encourage business expansion and evaluate public service for future growth,” according to the proclamation. The motto for the month is “Don’t pass it up – pick it up.”

“The first one started in ’06,” Randy Mustard said. “The last three Saturdays of April, we will meet at the campground store in the parking lot at 8 a.m.”

Mustard told commissioners the annual cleanup project has received great support from the community over the years.

Uhl said that volunteers will work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch break at noon. Anyone wishing to volunteer for any length of time is encouraged to participate.

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Commissioners voted to move forward on a request from the Highland County Soil and Water District for an additional employee to assist with the implementation and oversight of a new $850,000 grant through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

Representatives from the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District met with commissioners at their March 2 meeting, seeking an increase in funds from the county from $33,000 to $50,000 this year and to $60,000 next year.

“This money that we would be giving them is matchable by the state,” Duncan said. “It’s dollar-for-dollar, and that money can be used for administration.”

Wilkin said that maintaining water quality is “extremely important.”

“We want to keep the lake as clean as we can,” Horst said. “The lake is probably the best shape it’s ever been in right now. We need to keep it that way.

“I just think it’s the cliché, a no-brainer, to come up with this money to help them get this $850,000 grant. They’ve jumped through all the hoops to get that, and now they need some help getting it administered for five years. This is money I think we can probably find somewhere.”

Horst made a motion to provide $17,000 to the organization, which passed by a 3-0 vote.

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“Today’s Hope, Tomorrow’s Future” president Steven Williams, vice president of communications Hollis Stevenson, treasurer Liticia Walker, vice president of marketing Josh Walker and volunteer Stephanie Habig met with commissioners to discuss plans for an upcoming gala to raise funds for the Highland County Homeless Shelter.

Liticia Walker served as a spokesperson for the event and discussed the organization’s plans to provide activities for children at the homeless shelter as well as meeting other needs.

“There’s nothing for kids to do there,” Walker said. “When we went there a while back, there was a family of seven there with children. Unless the children bring toys there or anything to play with, they have nothing.”

A playhouse and play area for children has been proposed, along with some changes to the garden area. Walker said the organization hopes to also provide some of the basic needs of the shelter, including a new clothesline and a lawn mower.

Wilkin asked how the community could make a donation to the project or get involved. Walker said that a donation can be made to any Southern Hills Community Bank location, or she can be contacted at (740) 542-0902 for more information.

A semiformal dinner/gala is scheduled for June 4 at 7 p.m. at Alley 21, with the theme “Derby Days.”

“We’re going to dress up like we’re going to the Kentucky Derby,” Walker said. “There’s going to be a lot of fun, different things going on.”

The event will include dinner, raffles, an auction and entertainment by Blue Steel. Tickets to the event are $50 each.

“It’s going to be very limited,” Walker said. “There’s only room for about 100 people. It’s going to be a really nice evening.”

While THTF is working to raise funds for the homeless shelter this year, Walker said that they are hoping to assist a different charitable organization each year.

“This is an opportunity for the community to help the community,” Williams said. “The homeless rate or the services needed by the homeless shelter will continue to grow.

“This play area, for our first project, is the opportunity for these kids to have a normal childhood.”

For more information on the THTF organization, visit their press release on highlandcountypress.com.

Wilkin encouraged the group to return before their June 4 event.

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In other business, commissioners announced two upcoming meeting time changes. On April 6, their regular meeting will begin at 10 a.m., and on April 13, the meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m.

Wilkin announced that the county was ready to seek bids for their planned courthouse restoration project.

The Highland County Board of Commissioners received a $250,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Administrative Services, as announced at the board's Feb. 24 meeting.

“It’s going to be several projects,” Wilkin said. “We were fortunate to get some capital budget money to help us in doing those things.”

Wilkin said a meeting was also held regarding Highland County Job and Family Services’ lease at the Hi-TEC building.

“The old lease was based on the purchase of the building,” Wilkin said. “We went back and recalculated and talked to some of the folks at JFS and said, ‘Can we just do a simple lease rather than this long one?’”

Wilkin said that all parties have agreed to a “simple lease,” which will be finalized soon.

Duncan announced that the county received a $2,500 grant from the Ohio Pet Fund for the spaying and neutering of pets.

Commissioners have scheduled interviews following requests for quotes for utility providers for potential energy savings. Commissioners were scheduled to meet in executive session Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 p.m. and Friday at 10 a.m. to interview three companies, respectively.

Horst reminded the community that the Highland County Engineer’s summer hours will go into effect April 4 through Oct. 6.

Commissioners opened their meeting by wishing good luck to the Lynchburg-Clay Mustangs in their regional semifinal basketball game Wednesday night.

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Commissioners also approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A request from the Engineer for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to line items for equipment, contracts/projects and materials.

• A request from the Sheriff for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to the Sheriff Employee Salaries Line Item in the amount of $4,404.63.

• A request from Common Pleas Court to reappoint Robert Jackson as a trustee to the Board of South Central Ohio Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

• A request from Common Pleas Court for a modification within Youth Services in the amount of $1,000.

• A request from the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services for a reimbursement of funds from Child Support Enforcement Agency Administrative Account to Public Assistance in the amount of $6,956.40 for February shared cost distribution.