Gibson updates commissioners on Help Me Grow

Highland County Commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Gary Heaton met with Heather Gibson on the proposed budget for the Help Me Grow program during the commission's Nov. 17 meeting.

Gibson said she is anticipating a budget that closely resembles the current budget for the coming fiscal year. “I’m projecting the same budget, pending any changes in April (2011),” she said.

Gibson said the state has been sending monitors to all 88 counties to examine stimulus funds and how they are reported, for the federally mandated program.

Commissioners asked where future dollars would come from if stimulus funds were eliminated.

“This is part of what we’re all looking at,” Gibson said.

With the Help Me Grow program slated to be under the Ohio Department of Education next year, there’s concern about future funding.

“I did hear that the Department of Education cuts will begin at the administrative level,” Gibson said.

Heaton asked Gibson if she has considered a “worst-case scenario” budget for next year.

“I’ve already started on it,” she said. “But we won’t know a lot until April.”

Gibson asked commissioners to approve (which they did, 3-0) extending Help Me Grow associate Amy Hutchinson’s weekly hours to 30, effective Dec. 5, and to be paid through stimulus money.

“We need the help and we have to spend the money or it goes back to the state,” Gibson said.

“It’s a Catch 21,” Horst said. “You can’t save the money, you have to spend it.”

Wilkin referenced the county’s current economy and told Gibson, “Your services go up as everyone’s revenues go down.”

Gibson also informed commissioners that the Help Me Grow Adopt-a-Family for Christmas program has had very good local support. “As bad as it is, we have had overwhelming support from several churches, the Leesburg American Legion and private donors and sponsors,” Gibson said.

Gibson said 129 families in need are receiving some assistance through the Adopt-a-Family program.

Heaton praised Gibson’s effort on the Help Me Grow program, saying, “Since you’ve taken over, you’ve done an excellent job.”

For more on the commissioners’ meeting, go to www.highlandcountypress.com.

• Commissioners also received a copy of a letter from Highland County Coroner Dr. Paul Terrell to the Turner Funeral Homes regarding the necessity to disinter the remains of a recently deceased Lynchburg man for further examination.

In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• The authorization of a modification to the 911 Wireless Personnel fund, from Insurance to Salary Employees for $2,370.99, and to OPERS for $750 for a total amount from 911-Insurance of $3,120.99.

• The authorization of a modification to the Dog & Kennel budget as follows: from Supplies to Salary-Employees for $1,500; and to PERS for $150; and to Medicare for $50, for a total amount from Supplies of $1,700.

• The authorization to the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer District budget as follows: from Repairs to Contracts & Services for $8,000.

• The authorization of a modification to the Soil & Water budget as follows: from Other Expense to Salary Employees for $2,000.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Community Corrections FY10 budget from Unappropriated funds to Community Corrections, Advances Out, for $14,000; and the return of an advance to the Community Probation Dept. Service budget from Community Corrections, Advances Out to Community Probation Dept. Service for $14,000. This is repayment of an earlier advance.

• The authorization of a modification to the Community Probation Dept. Service budget from Specialized Stuff to Equipment for $5,000.

• The authorization the creation of two new appropriation expense lines, Furniture and Contract Help; and a modification to the Victim Witness budget as follows: modify from Court Fines & Fees to Contract Help for $600 and to furniture for $1,000, for a total from Court Fines & Fees of $1,600.

• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Victim Witness budget from Unappropriated funds to Supplies for $350.

• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Board of Elections, from Poll Workers Salary & Expense to Contracts & Services for $7,111.

• The authorization of a modification to the Help Me Grow budget as follows: from Insurance to Medicare for $1,000 and to OPERS for $4,000, for a total from Insurance of $5,000.

the amount approved and paid by the Commissioners and not reimbursed by the Ohio Public Defender’s Office, which shall constitute full and complete payment for all the Commissioners’ service during the term of the contract.

• The decision to enter into an agreement with the City of Greenfield to provide legal counsel to indigent persons charged with serious offenses and loss of liberty offenses in Highland County Court, Madison Township, and that the City of Greenfield shall pay to the Highland County Commissioners, for legal services provided in city ordinance cases, the amount approved and paid by the Commissioners and not reimbursed by the Ohio Public Defender’s Office, which shall constitute full and complete payment for all the Commissioners’ service during the term of the contract.

• The authorization of a contribution of $250 to the annual Veterans Day Dinner held on Nov. 6, 2010 to be paid from the Memorial Day

Expense/Outreach appropriation line in accordance with Ohio Revised Code, Section 5901.3(I).