Commissioners recognize JFS, law enforcement efforts to reduce fraud
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
The Highland County Board of Commissioners proclaimed the month of May as Fraud Awareness Month during its April 29 meeting.
Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Jeff Duncan presented the award to the staff of the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services Eligibility Unit, Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins and Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera.
Commissioner Tom Horst is on vacation this week and was not in attendance at the Wednesday meeting.
The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services recently presented the Highland County Department of Job and Family Services with its Director’s Award. Highland County Job and Family Services was recognized for its 273-percent increase in food assistance fraud collection from 2013-14, the largest increase in any county in Ohio.
This increase is due to a coordinated effort on the part of the Highland County JFS, the prosecutor’s office and the sheriff’s office to identify, investigate and prosecute suspects who fraudulently obtain food assistance, child care and Medicaid benefits.
“The sheriff’s office has a full-time investigator assigned now to Job and Family Services,” Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera said. “This allows us to focus on the kind of long-term investigations needed to pursue the theft of taxpayer dollars. Some of these investigations can take several months.”
Numerous fraud cases were presented to a Highland County grand jury in 2014, with some of those cases dating back more than three years.
“We successfully prosecuted all those cases,” Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins said.
“The result was more than $38,000 in restitution ordered by the court to be paid back to county taxpayers, and almost $20,000 has been collected already.”
This recognition comes in advance of the annual Public Assistance Fraud Awareness Month in May, sponsored by the Ohio JFS. Last year, a website that makes it easier to report suspected fraud was introduced at www.jfs.ohio.gov/fraud.
“This is an excellent tool that allows anyone, anywhere to report fraud online instantly and anonymously,” Highland County Department of Job and Family Services Director Debbie Robbins said. “They can also stop in at our offices or call us at 393-4278.”
Robbins reminds the public that “the buying, selling or trading of food assistance benefits is a felony offense.”
Accepting the proclamation from the JFS Eligibility Unit were Darlene Ford, Connie Storms, Tracy Rogers, Emily Cook and Melissa Chestnut.
Commissioners Wilkin and Duncan thanked the JFS staff and sheriff and prosecutor for their efforts.
* * *
• In other business, Wilkin provided an update on the quarterly Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth (APEG) meeting that he and County Clerk Nicole Oberrecht attended.
This was an economic development meeting and follow-up to previous CEDA (Community Economic Development Academy) training that the county participated in last year.
The Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth is one of six JobsOhio regional partners working to create jobs and economic growth for Ohio. Headquartered in Nelsonville, APEG serves 25 Ohio counties and provides Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) services to an additional three border counties for a total of 28 counties.
Wilkin said recent discussions involved pursuing $5,000 in funding for site certification at the Leesburg Industrial Park. Once completed, the certification will enhance the park's attractiveness for future development.
"Hopefully, as the economy improves, we'll find someone interested in building in the Leesburg Industrial Park," Wilkin said.
"This (certification) will make it more appealing," Duncan said.
The commissioners voted, 2-0, to seek the funding for the two-phase certification process with InSite consultants.
* * *
• Duncan said the county is seeking bids on the removal of the two large ash trees in front of the Highland County Courthouse. The trees have been infected with the emerald ash borer.
* * *
• Commissioners met in executive session for security matters related to the county's 911 communications system with Sheriff Barrera, Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Todd Wilkin and Hillsboro Police Officer Eric Daniels.
* * *
Resolutions
Commissioners approved the following resolutions, each by a 2-0 vote:
• A request by HCDJ&FS for a reimbursement of funds from Public Assistance fund to the Public Children Services fund for March 2015 TANF contract services in the amount of $1,522.55.
• A request from the Board of Elections for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to BOE Budget Poll Workers Salary & Expense in the amount of $750.
• A request from the Sheriff for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Sheriff Donation, Other Expenses-Donations in the amount of $8,500.
• A request from the Sheriff for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Sheriff Donation, Other Expenses-Donations in the amount of $3,000.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Jail Diversion Fund in the amount of $281.59.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Prosecutorial Diversion Fund in the amount of $223.88.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Pre-Trial Release Fund in the amount of $244.31.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to PSI Writing Fund in the amount of $119.44.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Jail Diversion Fund in the amount of $430.17.
• A request from Probation for additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to Prosecutorial Diversion Fund in the amount of $286.91.
• A transfer from County Miscellaneous, Transfers Out to Commissioners, Other Expense in the amount of $2,500.