Rural Small Business Forum, permissive sales tax receipts discussed at county commission meeting

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades heard updates on an upcoming small business forum with federal partners and discussed the nearly million-dollar permissive sales tax receipts collected in August during their Wednesday, Aug. 28 meeting.

Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender announced plans for a Rural Small Business Forum, held in partnership with USDA Rural Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration, to be held Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 9 a.m.-noon at the Highland County Fairgrounds. The event will coincide with the Highland County Fair.

The forum is expected to include appearances by U.S. Senators Jon Husted and Bernie Moreno; U.S. Representatives Mike Carey and David Taylor; and Assistant Secretary of Trade Luke J. Lindberg. According to a handout by Bolender, the program will include case studies and tools for rural economic vitality and networking with USDA, SBA and partner agencies.

“The goal is to bring the resources that are available to all of these folks to bring them here and to let our small businesses know what is available,” Bolender said. “This goes out to pretty much every single business in Highland County. The US SBA designates a small business as any business employing 500 or less, so that pretty much encompasses Highland County businesses.

“It's just a really great opportunity to have all of the resources laid out right in front of you, right here at home.”

The forum will also include a discussion of financing, including federal grant and loan programs available, as Bolender said she is encouraging local lenders to attend the forum. 

“A lot of times, one of the issues that we have is with gap financing,” Bolender said. “If a bank cannot finance the entire project, there's a really good possibility that some sort of program through the SBA or through USDA Rural Development is going to help fill that gap. 

“It’s important that our lenders know what is available, so that a deal doesn't get killed just because there's a gap that can't be filled.”

To register for the forum, visit https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/PBiFQUr3Yc.

In other discussion:

• Commissioners announced another record-breaking month for August permissive sales tax receipts, as the county collected $999,319.48 for the month.

That is the highest-ever total for August receipts and is the second-highest total for the year thus far, only trailing March’s $1.023 million. It is also the first time ever that the county has collected over $900,000 in three separate months, at least according to the data provided by the commissioners’ office. 

The $999,319.48 total for August is a 19.68-percent increase over the amount collected a year ago ($834,984.16) and puts the county 7.03-percent ahead of last year’s (current-record) totals for the first eight months of the year. It also puts the county past $7 million on the year, as receipts for the year currently total $7,024,739.06. 

• One week after opening two bids, commissioners voted via resolution to award the Highland County Courthouse phase 1 exterior renovations to Midwest Maintenance, Inc. for a total award of $1,880,000, including the $1,850,000 base bid with an alternate bid for column lighting.

“That exterior renovation will be starting here soon,” Britton said. “Once that starts, there's going to be somewhat of a limitation for the courthouse, especially in the front, so just be aware of that. I know once they get here, they'll probably be setting up barriers and all that stuff. I’m not sure exactly when they're going to start, but they'll be starting fairly soon.”

Discussions of interior courthouse renovations are still underway and are not expected to begin until 2027, as part of the second phase of the project. 
 
• After weeks of discussion, commissioners voted to authorize the purchase of a 24,000 BTU mini-split for the Highland County Board of Elections office at a cost of $13,890, including electrical engineering and permits.

The topic has been brought up at several meetings and work sessions since Cierra Moore of the county’s maintenance department brought initial quotes July 8, with commissioners repeatedly saying the quotes were “not an apples-to-apples comparison.”

The quotes commissioners discussed again Wednesday before voting had also included an $18,180 quote for two 12,000 BTU mini-splits from Weller’s; a $10,718 quote for one 12,000 BTU mini-split from Shafer Heating and Cooling; and an $8,191 quote from Wilkin Heating and Air for one 24,000 BTU mini split, but which did not include “the cost of supplying electric to it,” Daniels said. 

Commissioners said they were tired of “kicking this can down the road” and voted to award the project rather than wait for additional price quotes.

• In separate motions, commissioners approved a Local Jail Capital Project Grant Agreement contract among commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, State of Ohio and Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction as well as a resolution authorizing the execution of a Local Jail Capital Project Grant agreement with respect to the Highland County Jail facility. Also approved was an agreement with Securitas Technologies Corp, related to the same project. 

According to Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders, the HCSO obtained a $73,000 grant to cover the cost of repairs to cameras due to a computer system upgrade “messing up” their equipment. 

As discussed in June, Sanders told commissioners that since their computers updated to Windows 11, their “system that controls our cameras, door locks and our automatic checks” has been “having problems” with lagging. It took several months for their provider to identify the issue and then to give them the $73,000 estimate for a security system upgrade.

“I’d like to commend you on helping find that money,” Roades told Sanders. 

• Commissioners reminded the community of the county’s policy to avoid placing political signs on any county property during the upcoming election season.

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

• An amendment to the operating agreement for with Aramark Correctional Services, LLC for food services at the Highland County Justice Center.

• A portable services agreement with Symphony Diagnostic Services (TridentCare) for certain medical testing for inmates to be performed onsite at the Highland County Justice Center.

• The execution of a physical damage insurance agreement for the EMA Gator at the Highland County Justice Center.

• The execution of a six-month program extension with the Office of Community Development for 2024 Community Development Program amended scope of work and budget.

• The execution of a lease agreement intent letter for the Highland County Land Reutilization Corporation.

• A resolution to authorize a “then and now” purchase order and to authorize the county auditor to issue warrants for payment.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 2280 Records Preservation fund in the amount of $2,699.99.

• A resolution to create a transfers out line within the 2190 Family & Children First Administration fund.

• A resolution to create a contract and services line within the 2235 Workforce Development fund.

• A resolution to rename fund 2265 Healthy Aging Grant fund to Employee Wellness fund.

• A budget modification within the 5030 Rocky Fork Lake fund in the amount of $4,000.

• A request from County Court for an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 1000 County General – County Court fund in the amount of $267.60.

• A resolution to create an Other Expense line within the 2085 Recycling Grant fund.

• A resolution to create an Other Expense line within the 2090 Recycling Grant 2005 fund.

• A budget modification within the 2190 Family & Children First Administration Fund in the amount of $76,324.34.  

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the 2190 Family & Children First Administration Fund in the amount of $53,058.22. Also requested is a transfer from Transfers Out to 7999 Unclaimed Funds in the amount of $129,382.56.

• The approval of an agreement with Gingerich Floor Services for carpet cleaning at the Administration Building.