Need for utility expansion at Leesburg Industrial Park, new poll books at BOE discussed at commission meeting

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton heard a discussion on the need for gas utility expansion to open up economic development opportunities, as well as a proposal from the Highland County Board of Elections to purchase new poll books, during their Wednesday, Feb. 14 meeting. 

Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender, Leesburg Mayor Rita Smith-Daulton and Kirk Seeling of Utility Pipeline attended the meeting to discuss the need for expanded gas capacity, particularly at the Leesburg Industrial Park. 

“It’s no secret that we've seen an increase in our requests for information on the industrial parks in Highland County,” Bolender told commissioners. “One of the things that we want to make sure is that we have the appropriate infrastructure in place so that we are able to apply for those RFIs.

“There’s some things that we can fix, and there are some things we can't. Gas, water, electric — those are the types of things that we can address and make sure that we've done our part in putting the best foot forward for the industrial parks.”

According to the Leesburg Industrial Park’s JobsOhio profile, its available pressure is 60 PSI (pounds per square inch), and its excess gas capacity is approximately 20,000 MCF (million cubic feet) per month, according to Seeling.

“Julie is talking about getting people who want to move in there,” Seeling said. “Sometimes we can handle the capacity they need. Sometimes we can’t. With what we have there now, that 20,000 MCF a month is about capacity. 

“To get more than that, we'd have to go back, we'd have to talk to the transmission company, and you're looking about 20 miles back to Sabina, roughly, to get to another line. It's going to be pretty costly to do that.”

Seeling shared maps with commissioners, showing them the land in relation to the four-inch main for gas and the industrial gas line.

Daniels asked Bolender for an “average” of the capacity being sought in the RFIs she’s seen. She said “the average has been almost undeterminable. 

“We’ve gone from extremely high requests, to requests that we’ve said, ‘we can handle phase one, we can't handle phase two,’” Bolender said. “Sometimes we get information where it says ‘the site will be selected this quarter of this year, phase one this quarter of this year, phase two this quarter of this year.’ A lot of times that phase two or that final phase is two to three years out, and that still isn't really enough time for Utility Pipeline to expand operations. 

“I think that's what brought me to this. Is it something that we need to be proactive and increase now?”

Bolender in turn asked Seeling if he had an idea of what other parks were needing, and he too said “it varies.” He said the excess capacity in Leesburg “is right in line” with other area parks.

Roades asked Seeling for an “overlook 10 years from now for all these things” and if gas utility expansion is something that will “all have to be amped up” throughout the area.

“This is infrastructure that was built back in the ’50s all the way to Leesburg,” Seeling said. “It’s limited to 20 [thousand MCF] extra capacity right now. That could change if something else in Leesburg somewhere else would take some of that capacity away between now and if someone else, a potential client, wants to move in there as well.”

Daniels asked what benefit “an upgrade of this magnitude” would bring to surrounding communities.

“Just by getting extra capacity,” Seeling said. “We would fund some of the upgrades as well too, because it's going to help us as well.”

Seeling reiterated several times that an upgrade to Leesburg would “be pretty costly.

“It’s going to be multi-millions,” he said.

“I think we just want to be ahead of the game and be proactive and be able to accept instead of rushing to make to make ends meet,” Bolender added. “But if that being proactive comes at a multimillion-dollar price tag, then I think that changes things, maybe.”

However, Daniels asked Seeling to “pin down a number at some point” to give commissioners an idea of the costs involved.

“Throughout state government and throughout funding opportunities, there's money out there for development projects, the likes of which we've never seen before,” Daniels said. “If this something that is not only benefiting Leesburg but other communities throughout the county, we may very well say, OK, whatever multimillion dollars is, maybe this is something that's worth pursuing some of the funding opportunities that are out there.

“I don't think it hurts us, or hurts you, to maybe do a little pre-engineering in this thing and say ‘OK, look, this is what we're actually talking about here.’ It might not go anyplace, but at least having that number and the ability to pull the trigger to at least put in for something might be beneficial.”

Britton agreed, pointing out that the Ohio Legislature also has $700 million in “one-time money” that has not yet been earmarked. 

Seeling said he could “put some numbers together” for the county to review. Daniels asked him to “stay in contact” with Bolender and Smith-Daulton.

In other discussion:

• Elections Administrator Hunter Ellis and members of the Highland County Board of Elections met with commissioners to discuss acquiring new electronic poll books with state funding.

Ellis told commissioners that the Board was seeking $47,000 to make the purchase “upfront,” but added that under House Bill 45, the state legislature made arrangements for 85-percent reimbursement, so the actual cost to the county will be $7,050. The deadline to “secure funding” and place the order is May 1, he said.
     
“Our poll pads are all iOS devices, so they are Apple iPads,” Ellis said. “They have about a six- to seven-year lifespan. They were manufactured in 2018, and that means that they're coming to the end of their lifecycle and they're going to be out of support. 

“To stay in accordance with the Ohio Secretary of State's security directive, those will have to be replaced so that they can stay active and we can continue to use them for our elections.”

In response to a question from Daniels, Ellis said that the new poll books would likely be ready in time for the general election this November. 

“The November election is the last election that we could use our current poll pads for,” Ellis said. “Starting next primary, so next May, we would no longer be able to use our current ones.”

Daniels also asked if there were any “delays” anticipated due to all of the county boards of elections looking to upgrade. Ellis said he “wouldn't foresee any issues.”

“We will start looking for money,” Daniels said. 

In other discussion, Ellis said the Board of Elections is gearing up for the March 19 primary election.

“I'm excited,” Ellis said. “We're already lining up poll workers and everything, so we seem to be in a good spot.

“We always need more help, especially expecting high turnout with a sheriff's race on the ballot this primary and then a hotly contested presidential race in November. I think we'll expect turnout to be around 80 percent.”

Daniels thanked the Board representatives for the update.

• Highland County Auditor Alex Butler and Treasurer Vickie Warnock reminded the community that real estate tax bills are out and are due March 1.

“Come down and give Vickie a visit,” Butler joked, with Warnock adding, “That’s my personal invitation to everybody.” 

• An area homeowner involved in a yearslong conflict with Highland County Community Action attended the meeting and had asked to be placed on the agenda. The homeowner has made various claims, since 2022, about the work allegedly done to his home in 2019 by HCCAO staff and/or contractors. 

According to the homeowner, he reached out to commissioners last week to allege that his signature had been forged on a document related to this work. 

“I’ve not gotten a response back from anybody,” he told commissioners.

“That is a matter for the local sheriff,” Daniels replied. “If they believe that a crime has been committed, it's up to them. From that point on, it goes to the local prosecutor. If they determine that there's been a crime, then they can prosecute that crime. We have no jurisdiction over that. Understand that. That is completely within their authority. 

“That's an issue that you need to take up with them, and we thank you very much for your time.”

In other action, commissioners made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• Commissioners accepted a quote from Ultra Pro Professional Painting in the amount of $1,346 to paint the Highland County BMV office.

• After receiving word from Highland County Engineer Christopher Fauber of a new load rating requirement, the commissioners voted via resolution to authorize the reduction of load limits of structures, with a percentage of reduced loading being as shown for each structure. Commissioners granted the County Engineer to post said bridges accordingly.

• Commissioners authorized the County Engineer to purchase one new 2024 Ford Truck F-350 Super Duty 4WD Crew Cab XL SRW from Mt. Orab Ford, not to exceed a total of $60,165.

• Commissioners approved a request from Job & Family Services for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds in the amount of $100,000 to Transfers Out Child Emergency. Also requested is a budget modification from Transfers Out to Advances out in the amount of $100,000. Also requested is an advance from Child Emergency Fund, Advances Out to Children Services Special (2115) in the amount of $100,000.

“A week ago, we did a resolution and we needed to move a little bit more money to fulfill that obligation to Children Services, and that's what we're doing with this,” Daniels said.

• Commissioners authorized an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the Lakeside Sub-Division Sewer (5050) fund in the amount of $6,000.

• Commissioners approved an annual service agreement contract with the Sheriff’s Office and Tek84 for the HCSO’s Intercept whole body scanner.

• Commissioners entered an independent contract agreement with Unger Construction, LTD to install previously discussed Rocky Fork Lake sewer shutoffs for “long-term delinquent” users.

• Commissioners authorized the execution of an application for payment from Doll Layman, Ltd., the contractor for Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades.

“I believe that we've got two clarifiers poured, and the work out there is progressing fairly well,” Daniels said. 

• Commissioners also signed off on the Ohio Department of Transportation’s 2023 County Highway System Mileage Certification.