Commissioners proclaim Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan proclaimed the month of March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in Highland County during their Wednesday, March 2 board meeting.
Representatives from Hills and Dales, Highco and local schools accepted the proclamation. Highland County Board of DD Community Resources Director Kraig Walker thanked the board for the annual proclamation.
In addition, the 2016 annual Highland County Special Olympics Bowling Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 5 at Highland Lanes in Hillsboro. There will be two sessions available. A silent auction will be held from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
For more information, go to: http://highdd.org.
• Commissioners also presented a proclamation in recognition of March 6-12 as 4-H Week in Highland County.
Accepting the proclamation on behalf of youths involved in 4-H were Ohio University Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development Kathy Bruynis and Hillsboro High School students and 4-H members Meredith Oglesby, Emily Burwinkel and Lydia Dance. This year marks the 114th anniversary of Ohio 4-H.
The sixth annual Extension/4-H dinner and auction fundraiser will be 6 p.m. Saturday, April 2 at the Highland County Fairgrounds.
• Representatives from the Highland Soil and Water Conservation District met with commissioners in request of an additional employee to assist with the implementation and oversight of a new $850,000 grant through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.
Jim Carr, fiscal agent for the district, explained that the grant is for five years and will help maintain and improved the water quality within the Clear Creek Watershed for the city of Hillsboro and Liberty and Penn townships.
The district is partnering with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, the city of Hillsboro and others.
The district is seeking an increase in funds from the county from $33,000 to $50,000 this year and to $60,000 next year.
“We need help to make this grant work,” HSWC District Technician Chuck Williams told commissioners.
Commissioners discussed the time-frame for the additional person, and the district representatives explained that they would prefer to have funding secured by April with the employee in place by summer. The implementation would begin by the spring of 2017.
Commissioners contacted Rocky Fork Lake Area Safety and Advancement Plan Project Manager LuAnn Winkle to ask if there may be funding assistance through the Rocky Fork project, as the Clear Creek Watershed is vital to the lake and its water quality.
“We’re looking to maintain and improve the overall quality of water at Clear Creek, which ultimately affects Rocky Fork Lake, correct?” Duncan asked.
District representatives agreed, and added that the Ohio EPA has told the SWCD: “What you’re doing is working. Keep doing it.”
As Carr pointed out, other cities, including Detroit, Mich., and some in northern Ohio have experienced water quality issues.
“It’s a wise investment for the county,” Carr said, noting that matching dollars are available for the program.
Commissioners asked District Operations Manager Pam Bushelman to continue communications with the board in the next few weeks in order to work toward a resolution on the request.
Bushelman also told commissioners that the district will welcome Ohio Agriculture Director David Daniels at Tim and Sandy Shoemaker’s Millstone Creek Farm on March 16.
The Highland SWCD works to protect the natural resources while meeting the needs of the citizens of Highland County and promotes the wise use of natural resources through the use of technical and educational assistance with available funds. The Highland SWCD is governed by a board of five volunteer supervisors.
• Commissioners Wilkin and Horst voted to approve the appointments of Keith Sowell, Jay Duncan and Chuck Williams to the Joint Solid Waste Management District Policy Committee for 2016. Duncan abstained, as his brother was one of the appointees.
• Commissioners congratulated the family of Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley on the birth of his grandson, Dax William Fawley.
• Commissioners reminded the community that the 2016 Ernie Blankenship Radio-Telethon for the Highland County Society for Children and Adults will be March 30 from 6-9 p.m. at Merchants National Bank.