Highland County commissioners discuss suspension of SNAP benefits, potential new recycling site

Highland County commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels heard an update on the shutdown of SNAP benefits and began discussions of a potential new recycling mega-site for the county during their Wednesday, Oct. 29 meeting. 

Highland County Job and Family Services Director Jeremy Ratcliff and Income Maintenance Administrator Darlene Ford, who oversees public assistance programs for the county, met with commissioners to discuss the suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that will affect thousands of Highland County residents for at least November due to the federal government shutdown.

Ratcliff said he wanted to address some of the rumors that have been circulating and to clarify the most up-to-date information he had available.

“What I know, as of today, we’ve been advised by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services that SNAP benefits are not going to load in November,” Ratcliff said. “Ohio is a staggered start state, so we load anywhere from November 2nd to the 20th of each month, so in a few days, there would be some of our consumers do not get their SNAP benefits loaded. 

“I do not know when they will load. I don't know if they will kind of be suspended until such time as the government opens back up.”

Ratcliff added that the loss of these benefits will have a significant impact on the lives of residents, along with being an approximate $1 million economic impact.

“We serve about 6,000 people in the county that are on SNAP benefits,” Ratcliff said. “In the month of September alone, there was a million dollars of SNAP benefits that were loaded to Highland County residents, so there's a potential economic impact there as well to the county. To our families and our kids who use these benefits to support and stabilize their families, they will not be there.”

Ford warned that there will be “great stressors” on local food pantries and similar resources until this is resolved. 

“People are going to look to fill in the gaps where they can,” she said.

Ways to access food pantries, or to assist if able, can be found at https://ohiofoodbanks.org. On Thursday, Governor Mike DeWine signed an executive order to provide up to $25 million for food assistance through funding for food banks as well as emergency relief to families.

Daniels asked if the JFS agency was aware of “any conversations” among Highland County Community Action and other food pantries in the area about the increased need. Ford said she was unsure, but Britton pointed out that HCCAO’s funding has also been cut, with Head Start employees being furloughed. Daniels suggested that local religious groups and other food assistance organizations should “take initiative to get together and kind of combine forces” to best help “those people that might be in need.”

“There’s just a lot of uncertainty out there,” Ratcliff said. “Folks will have to make hard decisions. Folks are going to eat, and so that may impact other areas as well.”

Ratcliff also said that he wanted to emphasize that the Highland County JFS agency is responsible for “determining eligibility for the programs” and that they “do not issue the benefits.

“We're not sitting on a big pile of money out there and just not putting the benefits on the folks’ cards,” Ratcliff said. “We determine eligibility for the programs. That is all we do, and we don't make the rules by which they're eligible, so those rules were handed to us from the federal and state government. [Ford’s] team administers eligibility determinations based on the rules decided by the federal and state governments.”

In addition, Ratcliff said JFS will “continue to process applications” for public assistance during the shutdown, as he said some of the other programs, such as Medicaid, are not likely to be affected as significantly. However, the funding for administration of the program at the local level is also affected, Ratcliff said.

“We've been advised that the state has enough funding to get through mid-November, so we're making some adjustments internally to see how we continue to pay salaries, because the same people determine eligibility for SNAP also determine eligibility for Medicaid, also determine eligibility for lots of other programs out there,” Ratcliff said. “We still need to have our folks working and paying their salaries, so we're looking at what that means for us internally, if those administrative resources are shut off as well.”

In other discussion:

• Lauren Shreve of the RPHF Solid Waste District met with commissioners to share insights on a potential new recycling “mega site” in Hillsboro.

Shreve said that she and a representative from Rumpke would tour the property at 212 Hobart Drive, which commissioners purchased earlier this year in the hopes it could serve as both a county maintenance facility and a recycling hub. Assuming it fits their criteria, Shreve said the Solid Waste District could look into this as a 2026 project.

“The Solid Waste District’s responsible for providing recycling, so we're responsible for paying for the facility,” she said. “You guys would just own the property. 

“There's a few stipulations we have to look at, like there can't be overhead power lines or Rumpke can't service it, and there has to be enough space, obviously, for them to get turned around. Typically, we do like a 100x70 pad — the one in Ross County is a little bit smaller — but just enough space to put 10 bins is usually where we start, maybe a little extra growing room and just enough space to ensure that that truck can get in and out.”

Depending on space and commissioners’ interest, Shreve said that they could have additional areas for electronics recycling or other items, as is the case in Fayette County. Daniels asked her to provide a recommendation of what options could be offered with the space they have available.

In response to a question from Roades, Shreve explained that the Solid Waste District has begun implementing these “mega sites” due to updated regulations from the state as well as issues combatting illegal dumping at the often-remote recycling sites around the counties.

“We're starting to go toward putting in these one-stop shops for recycling in a gate facility,” Shreve said. “It's still free for residents to use. You just sign up on our website or request a paper copy.

“You get a PIN code to access the facility. That way, the resident, they still have free recycling access. It's still in a convenient location. They are just a little bit more responsible with how they use it, so if they dump a mattress on, I have cameras and I have a PIN code. They sign paperwork stating that if they're going to use this facility, they have to use it correctly.”

In the event a resident misuses the facility, Shreve said their membership will be canceled and the incident will be reported to law enforcement.

Shreve cautioned that a new mega site in Highland County “won’t be a one-size-fits-all” solution, but it will “take a lot of the stress off of the” current site at the Hi-TEC parking lot. She encouraged the city of Hillsboro and the villages in the county to consider applying for curbside recycling grants through the district as well if they are interested.

Daniels asked what the next steps would be after Shreve evaluates the site, as far as construction.

“We do not have to put that stuff out for bid,” Shreve said. “We usually do reach out to a couple different construction companies just to get, you know, two or three. Once you give us the go-ahead, like this spot right here is your baby, we'll take care of it, and obviously we're going to keep you clued in.”
     
In unrelated discussion, Shreve asked if commissioners would be interested in having a battery recycling box at the administration building again now that construction on their floor is complete, and commissioners advised they could take one.

• Following a brief discussion with Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender, commissioners voted 3-0 to enter a contract with The Montrose Group, LLC for economic development consulting services in the amount of $50,000.

In August, Bolender presented a proposal to commissioners regarding a new comprehensive plan. According to Bolender, the county’s only comprehensive plan was completed in 2003, and she asked for, and received, the commissioners’ blessing to move forward on plans for an updated version with the help of community stakeholders.  

“I had a work session last week with the Highland County CIC, and they have agreed that there is a necessity for a countywide plan,” Bolender said. “This is going to address everything that touches the county, so everything from infrastructure to housing development, parks and rec.

“We have identified a provider for that plan, The Montrose Group. They are economic developers and planners, just a great group of individuals there with a lot of knowledge.”

According to Bolender, “the CIC has agreed to pay a portion of the cost of the plan.” Daniels said the county has agreed to pay for $25,000 as well.

Daniels asked how long “the process” will take in developing the plan.

“Approximately six months from start to finish,” Bolender said. “In the end, we will have a physical, comprehensive plan — basically think of it as a check-off list, a to-do list, more than anything. 

“The steps in there will help us to identify our strengths, our weaknesses, what type of industry fits well here in Highland County, what type of assets we have, where we need to improve.”

Bolender added that the plan will help the county “to figure out who we want to be as a county” as opposed to having it be “chosen” for them.

“If we just kind of sit here and don't really focus on our assets and what we are best for, then those types of communities tend to be chosen, and maybe you get something in your community that just doesn't really fit,” Bolender said. “We want to determine what it is we want to be. We want to maintain the Highland County that people have come to know and love.”

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A request from Job and Family Services for a budget modification within the Children Services Special Fund (2115) in the amount of $315,000.

• A request from Job and Family Services for a transfer of funding from Children Services Special Fund to Public Assistance in the amount of $226,909.38. This transfer is for Children Services shared cost distribution.

• A request from Job and Family Services for a transfer of funding from Children Support Enforcement Administration Fund to Public Assistance in the amount of $24,727.31. This transfer is for Child Support cost distribution.

• A resolution to rescind Resolution No. 25-231 re-appointing Michael Richards to the Board of
Developmental Disabilities for a four-year term due to the end date of the term being incorrect. In a separate motion, commissioners approved a new resolution for the reappointment of Richards to the Board of Development Disabilities for a four-year term, from Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2029.

• An additional appropriation from unanticipated revenue within the (2540) Victim Witness Assistance Fund in the amount of $1,850.

• A budget modification within the County General Fund from Transfers Out to Economic Development, Contracts and Services, in the amount of $25,000.

• A resolution granting authorization for listed “Then and Now” purchase orders from Oct. 29, 2025, and the County Auditor is authorized to issue warrants for their payment.

• A change order with A&A Safety Inc. for the Highland County Engineer’s Office various county road pavement markings, with a reduction of $6,788.31.

• A change order with PDK Construction Inc. for the Highland County Engineer’s Office various fiscal year 2025 guard rail projects, with a reduction of $740.75.

• A subordination of mortgage request from Highland County Community Action.

• Two releases of surety bonds for New Market Solar.

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