Daniels, Ohio House honor Gary Heaton
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Commissioner Gary Heaton received special recognition from Ohio’s 128th General Assembly Dec. 22, when State Rep. and State Senator-elect David Daniels made a presentation on behalf of the House of Representatives.
“We are pleased to extend special recognition to Gary Heaton on his outstanding service as a member of the Highland County Board of Commissioners. He is truly deserving of high praise, for he has combined civic concern and dedication with selfless initiative to become a dynamic leader in the Highland County area.
“During his four-year tenure as a member of the board, he has ably fulfilled his myriad responsibilities and has demonstrated an exceptional devotion to serving his community. A decorated U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, a former employee of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, and a member of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Committee and the DHL Redevelopment Commission, he has made many significant contributions to the county’s growth and development, and he has clearly shown the potential of each person to have a positive effect on the quality of life in our society.”
The award was signed by Rep. Daniels and Armond Budish, speaker of the House of Representatives.
• In other action, Commissioners Heaton, Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst, met with Highland County Coroner Dr. Paul Terrell and his wife and assistant in the coroner’s office, Carole Terrell.
In a letter to the commissioners, Dr. Terrell called his projected 2011 budget “grossly inadequate” for the office.
“One only need review the year ending to see all the additional work that was generated simply because the board insists on once again under-funding this office.”
Carole Terrell asked the commissioners to address their funding of non-mandated offices, specifically the Extension and Soil and Water Conservation offices.
“Do you feel that the largest industry in Highland County (agriculture) shouldn’t have any local funding?” Wilkin asked.
“I think you should go by the law,” Mrs. Terrell replied.
“We have to take what is prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code,” Dr. Terrell said. “I am asking for relief for the extra work (in asking commissioners for additional funding through the year).”
“We don’t know what the state budget’s going to be in June,” Horst said.
“We are looking at the possibility of more cuts. We have to base the budget on $8.3 million.”
Heaton told the coroner, “If you need money later in the year, we’ll find it for you if it’s there. We know we have to fund you. But right now, this is the best we can do.”
Commissioners have submitted a budget of $71,962 for the coroner’s office, which is approximately $17,000 less than the office’s anticipated expenses.
“Have you ever considered funding what has to be funded before funding what doesn’t have to be?” Mrs. Terrell asked.
“We’ve already cut Extension spending from $220,000 to $50,000 a year,” Horst said. “They support the No.1 industry in the county.”
Wilkin also explained that next year Highland, Adams and Brown counties will begin sharing expenses on Extension educators to save costs.
“We have allocated dollars the best we can for each office,” Wilkin said.
• Commissioner Wilkin, Highland County Treasurer Vickie Warnock and Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley held a brief Investment Advisory Board meeting, with no action taken.
In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a modification to the Senior Citizens Center budget from Other Expense to PERS for $457.69, to Medicare for $13.82, and to Salaries for $37.92, for a total amount from Other Expense of $509.43; and from Workers Comp. to Salaries for $287.50.
• The authorization of additional appropriations to the following General Fund expense lines: from Unappropriated Funds to Commissioners Officials for $4,369.22, to Auditor Official for $1,904.96, to Treasurer Official for $1,481.40, to Prosecutor Official for $3,912.48, to Clerk of Courts Official for $1,481.40, to Coroner Official for $1,104.33, to Sheriff Official for $1,952.04, and to Recorder Official for $1,415.52. The total amount of additional appropriation is $17,621.35. The appropriation is the follow-up to the process of converting all elected officials to a payroll schedule beginning on Jan. 1 and ending on Dec. 31 to ensure that the exact statutory salary is paid each year.
• The authorization of a modification to Real Estate Assessment budget, from Contracts & Services to PERS for $1,525.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Juvenile Probation to Juvenile Court, as follows: from Juvenile Probation, Salary Employees, to Juvenile Court, Salary Employees for $1,000.
• The authorization of a rate increase to the monthly sewer user fee at the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District. The rate increase will be $1 per month for a new monthly fee of $29. A 10% penalty will be charged if not paid by the 10th day of the month due. This rate increase is effective Jan. 1, 2011.
• The authorization of a modification to the Youth Services Grant budget from Other Expense to Base Fringers for $15 and to PERS for $50, for a total from other expense of $65.
• The authorization of a modification to the Right-To-Know budget and a transfer to the Emergency Management budget as follows: modification from Right-To-Know, Personnel, to Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, for $200; and transfer from Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, to Emergency Management Agency for $200.[[In-content Ad]]
“We are pleased to extend special recognition to Gary Heaton on his outstanding service as a member of the Highland County Board of Commissioners. He is truly deserving of high praise, for he has combined civic concern and dedication with selfless initiative to become a dynamic leader in the Highland County area.
“During his four-year tenure as a member of the board, he has ably fulfilled his myriad responsibilities and has demonstrated an exceptional devotion to serving his community. A decorated U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, a former employee of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, and a member of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Committee and the DHL Redevelopment Commission, he has made many significant contributions to the county’s growth and development, and he has clearly shown the potential of each person to have a positive effect on the quality of life in our society.”
The award was signed by Rep. Daniels and Armond Budish, speaker of the House of Representatives.
• In other action, Commissioners Heaton, Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst, met with Highland County Coroner Dr. Paul Terrell and his wife and assistant in the coroner’s office, Carole Terrell.
In a letter to the commissioners, Dr. Terrell called his projected 2011 budget “grossly inadequate” for the office.
“One only need review the year ending to see all the additional work that was generated simply because the board insists on once again under-funding this office.”
Carole Terrell asked the commissioners to address their funding of non-mandated offices, specifically the Extension and Soil and Water Conservation offices.
“Do you feel that the largest industry in Highland County (agriculture) shouldn’t have any local funding?” Wilkin asked.
“I think you should go by the law,” Mrs. Terrell replied.
“We have to take what is prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code,” Dr. Terrell said. “I am asking for relief for the extra work (in asking commissioners for additional funding through the year).”
“We don’t know what the state budget’s going to be in June,” Horst said.
“We are looking at the possibility of more cuts. We have to base the budget on $8.3 million.”
Heaton told the coroner, “If you need money later in the year, we’ll find it for you if it’s there. We know we have to fund you. But right now, this is the best we can do.”
Commissioners have submitted a budget of $71,962 for the coroner’s office, which is approximately $17,000 less than the office’s anticipated expenses.
“Have you ever considered funding what has to be funded before funding what doesn’t have to be?” Mrs. Terrell asked.
“We’ve already cut Extension spending from $220,000 to $50,000 a year,” Horst said. “They support the No.1 industry in the county.”
Wilkin also explained that next year Highland, Adams and Brown counties will begin sharing expenses on Extension educators to save costs.
“We have allocated dollars the best we can for each office,” Wilkin said.
• Commissioner Wilkin, Highland County Treasurer Vickie Warnock and Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley held a brief Investment Advisory Board meeting, with no action taken.
In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of a modification to the Senior Citizens Center budget from Other Expense to PERS for $457.69, to Medicare for $13.82, and to Salaries for $37.92, for a total amount from Other Expense of $509.43; and from Workers Comp. to Salaries for $287.50.
• The authorization of additional appropriations to the following General Fund expense lines: from Unappropriated Funds to Commissioners Officials for $4,369.22, to Auditor Official for $1,904.96, to Treasurer Official for $1,481.40, to Prosecutor Official for $3,912.48, to Clerk of Courts Official for $1,481.40, to Coroner Official for $1,104.33, to Sheriff Official for $1,952.04, and to Recorder Official for $1,415.52. The total amount of additional appropriation is $17,621.35. The appropriation is the follow-up to the process of converting all elected officials to a payroll schedule beginning on Jan. 1 and ending on Dec. 31 to ensure that the exact statutory salary is paid each year.
• The authorization of a modification to Real Estate Assessment budget, from Contracts & Services to PERS for $1,525.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Juvenile Probation to Juvenile Court, as follows: from Juvenile Probation, Salary Employees, to Juvenile Court, Salary Employees for $1,000.
• The authorization of a rate increase to the monthly sewer user fee at the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District. The rate increase will be $1 per month for a new monthly fee of $29. A 10% penalty will be charged if not paid by the 10th day of the month due. This rate increase is effective Jan. 1, 2011.
• The authorization of a modification to the Youth Services Grant budget from Other Expense to Base Fringers for $15 and to PERS for $50, for a total from other expense of $65.
• The authorization of a modification to the Right-To-Know budget and a transfer to the Emergency Management budget as follows: modification from Right-To-Know, Personnel, to Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, for $200; and transfer from Right-To-Know, Transfers Out, to Emergency Management Agency for $200.[[In-content Ad]]