162 The Board of County Commissioners, Highland County, Ohio, met this day in Regular Session with Shane Wilkin, Thomas Horst, and Gary Heaton present. Mr. Wilkin called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. The minutes of the previous session were approved as written. All documents referenced in the minutes are filed in the Commissioners office and are available for review upon request. NOTE Rory Ryan, Highland Press, was present for the meeting. MOTION Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to approve payment of Bill File No. 10-51. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. The total amount paid was $144,416.98. The amount paid from the General Fund only was $52,300. A list of all bills paid is on file in the Commissioners office. SPECIAL LETTER Commissioner Heaton presented a letter to the Board of Commissioners and to the press: Board of Highland County Commissioners Board President, Shane Wilkin I will be ending my term of office soon, and there are several individuals I want to acknowledge. I chose letter form, for I fear my emotions would over come me if spoken in session. Elected in November 2006 to start a term in 2007, I was entering a new environment, and creating one for the commissioners office already in place. Rich Graves, Mike Rector, Rosalind Newman, Debbie Sansone, and Stephenie Seeling taught me what was expected and how to execute the duties of the office. Despite my deficiencies in technology, they guided me through the maze, with extreme patience I might add, of paper work and meetings that come with the office. In the end, I think I may have surprised them with some of my computer skills! Thanks to all of you. The present board of Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst and myself, formed an excellent foundation of cooperation in a short time frame, so we could move the county out of the economic disaster presented to our board at the start of 2009. Did we agree on everything, No, but we found an avenue to reconcile those differences. The county was on the brink of a situation that could have been catastrophic. No board in anyone s recent memory faced the problems our board did, our board made difficult decisions to keep our county viable, and now, because of those efforts, the county has a stable foundation going into 2011. My intent was to build from this foundation so the county would be able to weather future problems. The majority of voters in our county wanted a change. I understand the situation, but I am disappointed. Thank you, Shane and Tom, for all your efforts in making our office one of cooperation, not one of division. To the residents of Highland County, it has been my distinct pleasure and honor to serve as your county commissioner the past four years. Thank you for the opportunity. I attempted to represent you with dignity and honor where ever the travels of the office took me. I take only positive energy away with me as I leave office. To my family, Thank you for letting me follow my passion to serve. My family has shared me through all these years as I have served my country, my state, my county, and my local community. It has not been easy for them or for me. My public service schedule was a disruption and distraction that took me away from far too many family events, even though I attempted to be there for parts of the events, it was difficult for my family, but heart-wrenching for me. My wife, Edith, has been the foundation from which I was able to accomplish what ever challenge I tackled, explained why Dad or Grandpa could not be there, but wanted to be there so much, and so many other acts of support too numerous to recount,. There are not enough words to describe my gratitude and love I have for my wife and my family. I owe them a debt I can never repay. 162
163 In closing, I will be moving on from this office. I will be taking some time off to attempt to make up for time missed with my family, so much happens in time that slips by much too fast. I will stay involved. I will never forget the experience. As Gus said to Call in Lonesome Dove, It s been one heck of a ride. Sincerely your friend, Gary Heaton LETTERS The Board of Commissioners received the following correspondence: SERB/SEHCB request for Health Insurance Survey (forward to Auditor) Department of Justice Review of Project Civic Access Settlement Agreement (ADA) Engineer Request budget modification Soil & Water Request county portion of budget ODOD Request Final Performance Report for Economic Development Grant Wendell Sparks Advise Board of retirement last day of employment 12/31/10 To: Dr. Keith Smith, OSU Extension Letter of Commitment to Multi-County Extension Program Debbie Robbins, J&FS and Wendy Jacobs, Children Services Intent to merge agencies RESOLUTION NO. 10-436 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize a modification to the Engineer s budget (K-00), various lines to modify salary and PERS. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-437 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize an additional appropriation to the General Fund (A-00) to Miscellaneous Transfers for $272,476.90 and a transfer from Miscellaneous Transfers to Madison Township Debt Retirement (O-04) for $76,139.76 and an additional appropriation to Madison Township Debt Retirement Loan No. 92-04 for $92,116.98. The Board also authorized a transfer from the General Fund (A-00) to Justice Center Debt Retirement (O-03) for $100,000.00. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-438 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to dissolve the Board of Highland County Children Services by June 30, 2011 and combine that agency with the Highland County Department of Job & Family Services (J&FS) beginning July 1, 2011. The directors of each agency are instructed to begin the transition process immediately, with Debbie Robbins, Director of J&FS, acting as Transition Director, and complete the merge by June 30, 2011. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-439 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize a modification to the General Fund (A-00), Miscellaneous Transfers to Extension Service for $50,000.00 and to Fair Board for $2,300.00. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-440 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize a transfer from the General Fund (A-00) to Soil & Water (L-00) for $30,000.00. This is the 2011 County Share for the Soil & Water Conservation District. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-441 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize a modification to the General Fund (A-00) from Attorney Indigent Fees to Commissioners Salary Employees for $458.33, to Municipal Court Salary Official for $600.00 and to Municipal Court Salary Employees for $215.20. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. REPORTS The Highland County Board of Commissioners received the following reports: Auditor Amended Certificate No. 14 - $8,489,396.04, and No. 15 - $8,490,696.04 Ohio Public Defender Indigent Defense Reimbursement for August 2010 ($5,422.93) 163
164 CONTRACTS The Board of Commissioners signed a contract with Steve & Cathy Walker for $1,300.00 for a right-of-way on Bald Knob Road. See Engineer s file. The Board of Commissioners signed an addendum to the Community-Based Corrections Programs 408 Subsidy Grant Agreement, increasing the grant amount from $86,022 to $154,022 ($68.000.00). See Contract Binder 22, Page 125. MEETING The following department heads/department representatives met with the Board of Commissioners to discuss the 2011 budget: Judge Rocky Coss, Common Pleas Court; Ike Hodson, Recorder; Paulette Donley, Clerk of Courts; Chris Farber, Deputy Engineer; Bill Fawley, Auditor; Ron Ward, Sheriff; Kate Cameron, Director, Board of Elections; Debbie Craycraft, Deputy Director, Board of Elections; Vickie Warnock, Treasurer; Dawn Watson, Clerk of Juvenile Court; Jim Grandey, Prosecutor; and Ron Coffey, Clerk of Court, Madison Township, County Court. Rory Ryan, Highland Press, was also present for the meeting. Mr. Wilkin opened the meeting by stating that some salary line items were increased within a department s approved appropriation. He made the following points: 1. The Board does not endorse salary increases at this time. 2. If a department head increases the salary line, the remaining budget must be reduced by 20% of the increased amount to cover the cost of payroll-related expenses paid by the county. 3. No request for additional appropriation will be considered later in the year for a department that increased the salary line in the budget. Mr. Grandey said he was okay with his budget (increased salary lines) and the Board reminded him that he would need to reduce the budget an additional 20% of the increased amount. Mr. Otworth asked if the Board thought there would be budget reduction later in the year. Mr. Wilkin said there could be depending on the new governor s state budget decisions. Various state reductions were discussed: homestead, indigent reimbursement, and local government reduction. If all of these areas were reduced at the county level, the county could be seeing one million dollars less in revenue. The Governor presents his budget requirements to the legislation in mid-march and the county should know by then how much funding may be cut. Mr. Wilkin explained that debt is a very big expense for the county. Mr. Fawley said that health insurance alone cost the county $671,000 in 2010. MEETING Danielle Ratcliff, Family & Children First Council Coordinator, and Heather Gibson, Help Me Grow Program Director, met with the Board of Commissioners to update the Board regarding 2011 funding for their respective agencies. RECESS/RECONVENE The Board of Commissioners recessed at 11:40 a.m. and reconvened on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. RESOLUTION NO. 10-442 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to authorize the 2011 Highland County Budget (See total budget below). The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. RESOLUTION NO. 10-443 Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Heaton, to reduce the 2010 County Budget by $4,254,191.64. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea; Mr. Horst, yea; and Mr. Heaton, yea. NOTE Mr. Heaton left the meeting. MOTION At 3:00 p.m., Mr. Horst moved, seconded by Mr. Wilkin, to adjourn. The vote resulted as follows: Mr. Wilkin, yea, and Mr. Horst, yea. WHEREUPON, the Board of Highland County Commissioners will meet in Regular Session on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. 164
165 Clerk of Board Board of County Commissioners Highland County, Ohio ANNUAL APPROPRIATION RESOLUTION Of the County of Highland, Ohio For Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2011 Passed 12-29-10, Filed 12-30-10 By Bill Fawley, County Auditor THE STATE OF OHIO, HIGHLAND COUNTY, ss I, Debbie Sansone, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Highland County, Ohio, and in whose custody the Files, Journal, and Records of said Board are required by the Laws of the State of Ohio to be kept, do hereby certify that the within Annual Appropriation Resolution is taken and copied from the original Resolution now on file with said Board, that the within Resolution has been compared by me with the said original and that the same is a true and correct copy thereof: WITNESS my signature this 29 th day of December 2010. Debbie Sansone, Clerk 165
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