Security, investments on county agenda at commissioners' meeting
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Security, investments on county agenda
By RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
Highland County commissioners convened Wednesday on the 103rd anniversary of the birth of John Wayne and continued to demonstrate their
True Grit for a balanced budget.
In pre-meeting discussion, Commissioner Gary Heaton noted that there will be a special Democratic primary election in the Third District, which
includes Highland County, on July 13 due to the withdrawal of congressional candidate Dr. Mark A. MacNealy of Vandalia, who cited “a change in
circumstances.”
The special primary winner will face incumbent Rep. Mike Turner in the November general election.
In light of an anticipated low voter turnout on July 13, Heaton referenced a bill in the Ohio General Assembly which would allow for county
elections boards to consider opening fewer polling locations. (See a related story by the HCP’s Brandy Chandler on this page).
Commissioners also discussed security procedures for anyone using the Hi-TEC facility. After a recent meeting, all doors were not properly secured
and someone entered the building and damaged a fire alarm.
“It’s imperative that anyone using the building (has it properly secured),” Heaton said. “There’s so much sensitive information out there, we
need to have safeguards in place.”
Commissioners Heaton and Shane Wilkin said considerations would be implemented in which a county employee would check the building after any
meetings.
In other action:
* With Commissioner Tom Horst absent from the May 26 meeting, Heaton and Wilkin also discussed a proposal for less expensive propane for the county
dog kennel. Wilkin said he had spoken to Darrell Wilson of Blue Flame Gas and would “check into it a little bit more.”
* An allegedly illegal tie-in to the Rocky Fork sewerage system was addressed.
Commissioners were informed that one property had paid for a single hookup, but had allegedly pirated three additional tie-ins.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley joined the meeting at 9 a.m. and informed commissioners that an original newspaper bill for publishing
delinquent land tax legal notices exceeded his budgeted appropriations. “The paper (not The Highland County Press) dropped the price of the advertising,
but I only had $8,000 in my budget,” Fawley said. “I’m going to run out of money in postage. I’ll pay the delinquent (advertising bill) out of the Real
Estate Assessment Fund if you will allow that.”
Commissioners agreed to permit the auditor’s request.
Fawley pointed out that the county’s delinquency rate on property taxes has increased to “about 8 percent. Usually, it’s 5 to 6 percent,” he said.
* Fawley and Highland County Treasurer Vickie Warnock, along with Wilkin, then held a brief Investment Advisory Board meeting to discuss
potential investments of non-general fund monies.
Warnock told the board she had contacted area banks for their respective rates on CDs (certificates of deposit). Warnock said the best rates for
public investments was .35 and .36 percent for a one-year CD.
Wilkin said because the investments are public funds, “Banks are required to purchase securities for that amount. ... This protects the
public money.”
“I don’t think we ought to have all the money in one place,” Fawley said. “I think we should move some of it back to the checking account, which
pays .25 percent guaranteed, and gives us access to it if we need it. Maybe we move two $500,000 CDs or money markets.”
“I hope it’s clear that these are investment funds and not general fund money,” Wilkin said.
According to Heaton, most of the funds are from the Highland County Engineer’s Office, the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities
and the Department of Job and Family Services.
“Do you have a problem with moving some of that money?” Fawley asked.
Wilkin responded that he did not have any problem with the auditor’s proposal and the Investment Advisory meeting concluded.
* In a personnel matter, Fawley informed commissioners that Debbie Zile would become a “shared” employee between the auditor’s office and Paulette
Donley’s clerk of courts’ office.
“Will there be any savings?” Heaton asked.
“A little bit, but nothing to write home about,” Fawley said. “And I will need her (full-time) during the Board of Revisions, but Paulette can
have her back after that. I just don’t want anyone to think Paulette has added staff.”
Heaton then asked, “Are Rocky (Judge Rocky Coss) and Kevin (Judge Kevin Greer) putting people in the clerk’s office?”
“I don’t know,” Wilkin said.
“Judge Kline (Court of Appeals Judge Roger Kline) has never gotten back with us,” Wilkin added.
* Highland County Children Services Executive Director Wendy Jacobs was on the commission agenda for issues related to a building lease, a contract,
and state and federal audits. Jacobs discussed the Child Protection Oversight Evaluation and the state and federal guidelines included therein.
She also informed the commissioners of the compliance requirements for the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act review.
Jacobs said her department budget is looking sound for the remainder of 2010. “We finally dug out of our hole. We’re getting back to being
stabilized and getting back to the place we want to be. Things are looking a lot better. ... Foster care payments have gone from $70,000 per month to
$15,000 per month.”
In the only negative aspect of her report, Jacobs said the agency is seeing more children from heroin addicts. “Some of these parents don’t visit
their kids, and don’t care,” she said.
Jacobs also said Debbie Robbins of Job and Family Services “has been a blessing” for the agency.
“Things are better across the county this year than last,” Heaton said.
* Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth attended the 10:02 a.m. bid openings for estimates on culverts for South Baker, Oak Grove and Jamison
roads.
United Precast and Scioto Valley Precast submitted the only bids. The total bid of just under $78,000 from United Precast was recommended by
Otworth and approved by commissioners.
Otworth also said the May 21 storm caused a number of problems for the county and state, particularly on S.R. 134, Hightop Road and Leaverton Road
due to high water and debris.
The engineer updated commissioners on the Hobart-Carl Smith Drive project and said he was anticipating a completion date by the fall of 2012
if all of the funding comes through.
Commissioners approved the following resolutions by 2-0 votes:
* The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has set forth a process for inter-county adjustments of allocated funds, in accordance with the Ohio
Administrative Code (5101:9-6); and Fairfield and Highland counties desire to exchange TANF Regular and Title XX dollars in an "even change" of $50,000
(both counties are releasing and accepting funds). The authorization of the reimbursement to the Help Me Grow (County) (S-60) budget as follows: from
(S-26 Help Me Grow Pass-through), Reimburse to S-60, Help Me Grow (County) in the amount of $13,426.00.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Maintenance & Operations, as follows: from Contracts & Services to Rentals, in the amount
of $16,641.50.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, TEC, as follows:
from Maintenance & Operations, Contracts & Services to TEC, Contracts & Repairs, in the amount of $1,000.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, County Miscellaneous, as follows: from Attorney-Indigent Fees to
Salary-Indigent-Stenographer, in the amount of $1,000.
Highland County commissioners convened Wednesday on the 103rd anniversary of the birth of John Wayne and continued to demonstrate their True Grit for a balanced budget.
In pre-meeting discussion, Commissioner Gary Heaton noted that there will be a special Democratic primary election in the Third District, which includes Highland County, on July 13 due to the withdrawal of congressional candidate Dr. Mark A. MacNealy of Vandalia, who cited “a change in circumstances.”
The special primary winner will face incumbent Rep. Mike Turner in the November general election.
In light of an anticipated low voter turnout on July 13, Heaton referenced a bill in the Ohio General Assembly which would allow for county elections boards to consider opening fewer polling locations. (See a related story by the HCP’s Brandy Chandler).
Commissioners also discussed security procedures for anyone using the Hi-TEC facility. After a recent meeting, all doors were not properly secured
and someone entered the building and damaged a fire alarm.
“It’s imperative that anyone using the building (has it properly secured),” Heaton said. “There’s so much sensitive information out there, we need to have safeguards in place.”
Commissioners Heaton and Shane Wilkin said considerations would be implemented in which a county employee would check the building after any meetings.
In other action:
* With Commissioner Tom Horst absent from the May 26 meeting, Heaton and Wilkin also discussed a proposal for less expensive propane for the county dog kennel. Wilkin said he had spoken to Darrell Wilson of Blue Flame Gas and would “check into it a little bit more.”
* An allegedly illegal tie-in to the Rocky Fork sewerage system was addressed.
Commissioners were informed that one property had paid for a single hookup, but had allegedly pirated three additional tie-ins.
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley joined the meeting at 9 a.m. and informed commissioners that an original newspaper bill for publishing delinquent land tax legal notices exceeded his budgeted appropriations. “The paper (not The Highland County Press) dropped the price of the advertising, but I only had $8,000 in my budget,” Fawley said. “I’m going to run out of money in postage. I’ll pay the delinquent (advertising bill) out of the Real Estate Assessment Fund if you will allow that.”
Commissioners agreed to permit the auditor’s request.
Fawley pointed out that the county’s delinquency rate on property taxes has increased to “about 8 percent. Usually, it’s 5 to 6 percent,” he said.
* Fawley and Highland County Treasurer Vickie Warnock, along with Wilkin, then held a brief Investment Advisory Board meeting to discuss potential investments of non-general fund monies.
Warnock told the board she had contacted area banks for their respective rates on CDs (certificates of deposit). Warnock said the best rates for public investments was .35 and .36 percent for a one-year CD.
Wilkin said because the investments are public funds, “Banks are required to purchase securities for that amount. ... This protects the public money.”
“I don’t think we ought to have all the money in one place,” Fawley said. “I think we should move some of it back to the checking account, which pays .25 percent guaranteed, and gives us access to it if we need it. Maybe we move two $500,000 CDs or money markets.”
“I hope it’s clear that these are investment funds and not general fund money,” Wilkin said.
According to Heaton, most of the funds are from the Highland County Engineer’s Office, the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Job and Family Services.
“Do you have a problem with moving some of that money?” Fawley asked.
Wilkin responded that he did not have any problem with the auditor’s proposal and the Investment Advisory meeting concluded.
* In a personnel matter, Fawley informed commissioners that Debbie Zile would become a “shared” employee between the auditor’s office and Paulette Donley’s clerk of courts’ office.
“Will there be any savings?” Heaton asked.
“A little bit, but nothing to write home about,” Fawley said. “And I will need her (full-time) during the Board of Revisions, but Paulette can have her back after that. I just don’t want anyone to think Paulette has added staff.”
Heaton then asked, “Are Rocky (Judge Rocky Coss) and Kevin (Judge Kevin Greer) putting people in the clerk’s office?”
“I don’t know,” Wilkin said.
“Judge Kline (Court of Appeals Judge Roger Kline) has never gotten back with us,” Wilkin added.
* Highland County Children Services Executive Director Wendy Jacobs was on the commission agenda for issues related to a building lease, a contract, and state and federal audits. Jacobs discussed the Child Protection Oversight Evaluation and the state and federal guidelines included therein.
She also informed the commissioners of the compliance requirements for the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act review.
Jacobs said her department budget is looking sound for the remainder of 2010. “We finally dug out of our hole. We’re getting back to being stabilized and getting back to the place we want to be. Things are looking a lot better. ... Foster care payments have gone from $70,000 per month to $15,000 per month.”
In the only negative aspect of her report, Jacobs said the agency is seeing more children from heroin addicts. “Some of these parents don’t visit their kids, and don’t care,” she said.
Jacobs also said Debbie Robbins of Job and Family Services “has been a blessing” for the agency.
“Things are better across the county this year than last,” Heaton said.
* Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth attended the 10:02 a.m. bid openings for estimates on culverts for South Baker, Oak Grove and Jamison roads.
United Precast and Scioto Valley Precast submitted the only bids. The total bid of just under $78,000 from United Precast was recommended by Otworth and approved by commissioners.
Otworth also said the May 21 storm caused a number of problems for the county and state, particularly on S.R. 134, Hightop Road and Leaverton Road due to high water and debris.
The engineer updated commissioners on the Hobart-Carl Smith Drive project and said he was anticipating a completion date by the fall of 2012 if all of the funding comes through.
Commissioners approved the following resolutions by 2-0 votes:
* The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has set forth a process for inter-county adjustments of allocated funds, in accordance with the Ohio Administrative Code (5101:9-6); and Fairfield and Highland counties desire to exchange TANF Regular and Title XX dollars in an "even change" of $50,000 (both counties are releasing and accepting funds). The authorization of the reimbursement to the Help Me Grow (County) (S-60) budget as follows: from (S-26 Help Me Grow Pass-through), Reimburse to S-60, Help Me Grow (County) in the amount of $13,426.00.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Maintenance & Operations, as follows: from Contracts & Services to Rentals, in the amount of $16,641.50.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, TEC, as follows:
from Maintenance & Operations, Contracts & Services to TEC, Contracts & Repairs, in the amount of $1,000.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, County Miscellaneous, as follows: from Attorney-Indigent Fees to Salary-Indigent-Stenographer, in the amount of $1,000.
[[In-content Ad]]