RFL area thefts brought to commissioners' attention

Paint Township Trustee Randy Mustard informed the Highland County Board of Commissioners of a series of recent thefts of sewer covers in the Rocky Fork Lake area.

During a recess in the Wednesday board meeting, Mustard identified three areas of recent thefts and expressed concern for safety, as well as the need to report the criminal activity.

Mustard told The Highland County Press that there was a bit of confusion as to which office should report the incidents. Some thought it was a Paint Township issue, but Mustard said he thought it was part of the Rocky Fork Lake area sewer district.

Mustard said the thieves were most likely selling the stolen metal. Both Mustard and Commissioner Tom Horst said they hoped no area metal recycling business would be purchasing the stolen material.

Horst said he would check into the issue with Frank Leone of Environmental Engineering Service, which contracts with the county on the sewer district.

Mustard said he just wants it addressed before anyone is hurt.

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• In other business, commissioners met with Highland County Clerk of Courts Ike Hodson regarding the implementation of debit and credit card processing at the clerk's office and at the title office in the Hi-TEC building.

Hodson said the title office will need Internet access in order to set up the service.

"I have contacted Time Warner and we will save money by bundling," Hodson said. He said the county is currently paying $130 per month for telephone service only and that the monthly rate will be $109 through the bundling package.

Hodson proposed a two-year contract with Time Warner. Commissioner Tom Horst made a motion to accept the proposal and Horst, along with commissioners Shane Wilkin and Jeremy Shaffer, voted in favor of the recommendation.

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• Highland County Emergency Management Director Jim Lyle presented a "Code Red" Homeland Security grant opportunity for commissioners' consideration.

The grant would enhance the county's ability to notify citizens during weather-related and other emergency situations.

According to Lyle, Code Red is a web-based program for emergency communications purposes. If approved, Highland County would receive five licenses which could be implemented in strategic areas throughout the county.

The program involves various media from email to text and other electronic communications, Lyle said. Lyle presented a cost breakdown that would include all 17 townships, four villages, the city of Hillsboro and the county commissioners' office.

Highland County Prosecutor Anneka Collins asked Lyle if the program could be ended after the grant money was exhausted. "Once your grant is up, can you end it?" Collins asked.

"Yes," Lyle said.

"I want to make sure we are not holding townships and everyone responsible for something down the road," Collins said.

"The biggest problem is we don't have a local radio station in the county," Lyle said. "We're looking at WLW, but a lot of people don't listen to the radio."

"I think it would be very beneficial to the citizens of Highland County," Horst said. "It used to be we could call WSRW, but people don't listen to the radio any more."

Horst made a motion for the county to move forward with the grant application – at no shared cost to the county. Shaffer seconded the motion and the vote was 3-0 in the affirmative.

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• Commissioners also met with Highland County Women’s Hall of Fame committee members Sue Smith, Debbie Rhude and Cathy Jones Wednesday.

It was announced that 2012 Women's Hall of Fame inductees are: Jeannie Snapp, Kathy Levo, Margaret Victoria Moomaw-Cooper-Dieringer (dec.) and Sue Ludwick Smith. The Hall of Fame dinner will be Aug. 28 at the Ponderosa Banquet Center.

For more than 30 years, Highland County has celebrated the accomplishments of local women by honoring them with induction into the Highland County Women's Hall of Fame. Traditionally, the induction takes place during the last week of August.

The last week of August was chosen for the dinner to coincide with Women's Equality Day, according to Debbie Rhude. That day, Aug. 26, was selected by the U.S. Congress in 1971 to commemorate the 1920 passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The 19th Amendment grants women the right to vote.

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• Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward asked the board for its consent to hold the annual county auction in late September or early October.

The auction includes the sale of forfeited property, such as guns, vehicles and real estate. It also allows other county offices, as well as Southern State Community College, the opportunity to sell excess office items.

Ward said the auction is usually held on a Thursday at the Highland County Fairgrounds. Local auction companies will receive an invitation to bid their services. Local advertisements also have to be scheduled, which can be placed for competitive bids.

Commissioners said they were in favor of moving forward with the county auction.

In a separate matter, the sheriff said the Highland County Justice Center is experiencing a number of leaks in its copper plumbing piping. The installation is 11 years old, Ward said.

The leaks, according to a local plumber, could be related to sub-grade copper or electrolysis, which is the "chemical decomposition produced by passing an electric current through a liquid or solution containing ions."

"It could become a significant repair issue," Ward said. "Being a 24/7 building, our building gets about three times the normal use."

Commissioners suggested the sheriff contact Steve Hunter from Weller's Plumbing for further consultation.

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• Highland County Commission President Shane Wilkin read a proclamation in recognition of former Highland County Press managing editor Brandy Chandler during Wednesday’s board meeting. Wilkin and Commissioners Shaffer and Horst honored Chandler for her years of service in providing “up-to-the-minute” news to the community.

Chandler was recently accepted into the Capital University Law School in Columbus.