Commissioners receive funds from Pike Forest timber sales; money goes to Children Services
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan received some unexpected good news at their Nov. 2 board meeting, as timber sales from Pike State Forest resulted in $20,986.06 to the county.
A check to the county was presented by Pike State Forest Manager Ben Kelley and Southern State Forests Administrator Nate Jester.
Jester also discussed the overall regional economic impact from the cutting and sale of timber in Ohio state forests as well as maintaining healthy forests for trees, wildlife and park visitors.
Land acquisition for Pike State Forest began in 1924, with the objective of returning abused hill farms and fire-damaged timber lands to productive forests. Most of the reforestation work was completed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Division of Forestry. Pike State Forest covers 12,084 acres in western Pike County and eastern Highland County.
The funds are from timber sales from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
"Since there are a few hundred acres of Pike State Forest in Highland County, the funds are available," Jester said. He said the funds, totaling $83,944.26, are divided by the county ($20,986.06), Brush Creek Township ($20,986.06) and Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools ($41,972.13).
After the county's portion had been paid into the General Fund, commissioners voted, 3-0, to place it in the S-85 Children Services Emergency Fund.
* * *
• Commissioners also met with Becky Williams and Gary Smaltz from the Highland County Veterans Service Commission at the Nov. 2 board meeting.
Smaltz and Williams explained the new veterans identification card system is operating at the VSC office.
"We are up and running with the new state ID card system for veterans," Smaltz said. "Veterans can bring in their DD214 form (or get it at the county recorder's office) and we can process their card."
Smaltz said Highland County is one of the first Ohio counties to have the new ID card system operating and thanked commissioners and County Recorder Chad McConnaughey for their cooperation.
The new ID cards are free, and veterans are encouraged to stop by the VSC office at 1575 North High Street in Hillsboro between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
* * *
• Commissioners received a letter of concern regarding Highland County Job and Family Services from Hillsboro resident Theresa Raisch. Raisch was critical of JFS for its handling of an Oct. 4 matter that involved her son.
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he just received the letter and would speak with JFS Executive Director Katie Adams about the situation.
* * *
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A request from Turning Point to establish a new fund, BCJI Implementation, and create a new line item, Other Expense and appropriate $75,645.
• A request from Probation to revise the budget for Jail Diversion.
• A request from Probation to establish a new fund, OMHAS Re-Entry Services.
• A modification within Rolling Woods Sewage Account from Contract-Repairs to Contract-Services in the amount of $900.
• A resolution for the Highland County Engineer to award Fillmore Construction the HIG-Hobart/Carl Smith Drive, Sidewalk bid.
• A resolution to re-appoint Cheryl Lyle to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020.
• A request from the Prosecutor for a modification within the Prosecuting Attorney Budget from Supplies to Salary in the amount of $3.
• A request from the Sheriff for a new fund, Bryne Criminal Justice Innovation Implementation Grant, to be set up with the following line items and appropriations.
• A modification within Rocky Fork Lake Sewer from Supplies to Transfers Out in the amount of $4,000 and a transfer from Transfers Out to Mowrystown Sewer and appropriate to Contracts-Services in the amount of $4,000.
• A bid of $4,522 from AC Glass for renovations at the Highland County Courthouse.
A check to the county was presented by Pike State Forest Manager Ben Kelley and Southern State Forests Administrator Nate Jester.
Jester also discussed the overall regional economic impact from the cutting and sale of timber in Ohio state forests as well as maintaining healthy forests for trees, wildlife and park visitors.
Land acquisition for Pike State Forest began in 1924, with the objective of returning abused hill farms and fire-damaged timber lands to productive forests. Most of the reforestation work was completed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Division of Forestry. Pike State Forest covers 12,084 acres in western Pike County and eastern Highland County.
The funds are from timber sales from July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
"Since there are a few hundred acres of Pike State Forest in Highland County, the funds are available," Jester said. He said the funds, totaling $83,944.26, are divided by the county ($20,986.06), Brush Creek Township ($20,986.06) and Adams County/Ohio Valley Schools ($41,972.13).
After the county's portion had been paid into the General Fund, commissioners voted, 3-0, to place it in the S-85 Children Services Emergency Fund.
* * *
• Commissioners also met with Becky Williams and Gary Smaltz from the Highland County Veterans Service Commission at the Nov. 2 board meeting.
Smaltz and Williams explained the new veterans identification card system is operating at the VSC office.
"We are up and running with the new state ID card system for veterans," Smaltz said. "Veterans can bring in their DD214 form (or get it at the county recorder's office) and we can process their card."
Smaltz said Highland County is one of the first Ohio counties to have the new ID card system operating and thanked commissioners and County Recorder Chad McConnaughey for their cooperation.
The new ID cards are free, and veterans are encouraged to stop by the VSC office at 1575 North High Street in Hillsboro between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.
* * *
• Commissioners received a letter of concern regarding Highland County Job and Family Services from Hillsboro resident Theresa Raisch. Raisch was critical of JFS for its handling of an Oct. 4 matter that involved her son.
Commission President Shane Wilkin said he just received the letter and would speak with JFS Executive Director Katie Adams about the situation.
* * *
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A request from Turning Point to establish a new fund, BCJI Implementation, and create a new line item, Other Expense and appropriate $75,645.
• A request from Probation to revise the budget for Jail Diversion.
• A request from Probation to establish a new fund, OMHAS Re-Entry Services.
• A modification within Rolling Woods Sewage Account from Contract-Repairs to Contract-Services in the amount of $900.
• A resolution for the Highland County Engineer to award Fillmore Construction the HIG-Hobart/Carl Smith Drive, Sidewalk bid.
• A resolution to re-appoint Cheryl Lyle to the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities from Jan. 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2020.
• A request from the Prosecutor for a modification within the Prosecuting Attorney Budget from Supplies to Salary in the amount of $3.
• A request from the Sheriff for a new fund, Bryne Criminal Justice Innovation Implementation Grant, to be set up with the following line items and appropriations.
• A modification within Rocky Fork Lake Sewer from Supplies to Transfers Out in the amount of $4,000 and a transfer from Transfers Out to Mowrystown Sewer and appropriate to Contracts-Services in the amount of $4,000.
• A bid of $4,522 from AC Glass for renovations at the Highland County Courthouse.