Katie Adams named acting director of JFS
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Highland County commissioners Shane Wilkin, Tom Horst and Jeff Duncan voted, 3-0, Wednesday, March 23 to appoint Katie Adams as the acting director of Highland County Job and Family Services.
Commissioners announced in November 2015 that Adams was hired as the Highland County Job and Family Services assistant director. She will serve as acting director while JFS Director Debbie Robbins is on leave, the board said.
In other business, Commissioner Duncan congratulated Shane Wilkin for being named chairman of the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission, succeeding longtime chairman Bob Proud.
"I'd like to congratulate Shane, and we will look forward to 25 years of service like Bob," Duncan said.
Wilkin thanked the commissioner for the recognition.
OVRDC is a public regional planning commission and operates in the capacity of a regional economic and community development agency. OVRDC coordinates federal, state and local resources to encourage development in 12 southern Ohio counties: Adams, Brown, Clermont, Fayette, Gallia, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross, Scioto and Vinton.
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Moment of silence
• Commissioners and those in attendance observed a moment of silence following The Pledge of Allegiance for former Ohio Prison Director Terry Collins, who passed away March 17.
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Clay Township requests assistance
• The Clay Township Trustees have requested additional funds for an ongoing cleanup project near Buford. Commissioners said they would recommend the trustees apply now for an additional $5,000 from the recycling grant money, with an option to apply for additional funds – if available – after July 1.
"We said we'd go 50 percent if they (trustees) would match it – up to $5,000," Horst said. The board said a form would be prepared in order to make the request.
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Permissive sales tax
• Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley reported the March 2016 permissive sales tax revenues (for January sales) were $640,112.98, down slightly from $642,993.73 from one year ago.
Fawley also updated commissioners on changes in the county's Workers' Compensation expenses for 2016.
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Deferred compensation
• Rachel Willoughby, a retirement plan counselor with the County Commissioners Association of Ohio, met with the board Wednesday and discussed deferred compensation and other benefits available to county employees.
Willoughby represents 10 southwest Ohio counties, including Highland.
She said her responsibility is to educate people prior to retirement and help them "avoid emotional devastation" later on.
"My job is to provide knowledge and resources to make people 'retirement ready,'" Willoughby said.
In addition to assisting employees calculate their retirement income, she also discussed Medicare issues and promoted the 457B retirement plan.
"This is government's version of a 401K," she said.
Willoughby has already met with several county employees and is available by email at rachel.willoughby@empower-retirement.com or by calling (800) 284-0444, ext. 662.
For more information, go to https://www.ohio457.org/iApp/tcm/ohio457/index.jsp.
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• The board selected Plug Smart to be the county's Energy Services Company.
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Resolutions
Commissioners passed two resolutions, each by a 3-0 vote:
• A resolution from County Court for an additional appropriation of $50 for travel expenses.
• A resolution to approve a Sheriff's Office contract with Tyco Simplex Grinnell for fire and security protection in the amount of $1,129.95.
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Meeting times change
The board said the April 6 meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. and the April 13 meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m.
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Executive session
• Commissioners entered into executive session for personnel with Katie Adams and County Prosecutor Anneka Collins.
After executive session, based on the recommendation of the acting director of Highland County Job and Family Services and in order to provide a more efficient and economical operation, the board voted to accept a revised organizational chart that included the abolishment of the “in-house” attorney position. Richelle Stroop had served as the in-house attorney, the commissioner's office said.
Those duties will now be provided through a IV-D contract with the Highland County Prosecutor's office.