Commissioners OK sheriff’s cruisers, other purchases; hear concerns about HCHD reporting policy

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades approved several purchases, including two sheriff’s cruisers, and met with a concerned citizen during their Wednesday, Oct. 11 meeting.

After hearing from Highland County Sheriff Donnie Barrera, commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize Barrera to move forward with the purchase of two new Dodge Durangos for the Sheriff’s Office.

As previously discussed, in August, the sheriff submitted a quote for two new vehicles, although Barrera said Wednesday that price has since increased since that quote expired. As of Oct. 11, Britton said he thought the total price would be about $110,000 for the vehicles and equipment.

In August, commissioners had declined to take action until speaking to Barrera, saying the the county “already bought sheriff’s vehicles” for 2023, which were authorized in November 2022.

Barrera explained Wednesday that he had been told by their dealership that they needed to “put in really early” to try to reserve vehicles for 2024, the delivery of which is still not even guaranteed. They also are limited to Dodge Durangos, not Ford Explorers as they have previously purchased, he said. Their most recent vehicle purchases were also Durangos.

“We just now got our two new ones from last year,” Barrera said. “We finally got the second one on the road this last week. It takes a while to get the vehicles in, and then it takes a while to get all the equipment for the vehicles.”

Daniels asked if the new vehicles would be delivered in 2024. Barrera said that as of right now, he can “still get an order in,” but his sales rep “can’t say for sure” when they will be ready due to the current United Auto Workers strike.

“I guess my point is, these aren’t going to come due this calendar year, for budgetary purposes,” Daniels said.

Barrera agreed. “He doesn’t know how much longer they’re going to even keep it open to get the Dodge,” he said. “I talked to him last week, but he was unsure at that time. That's why I sent you back up the other quote, to see what we wanted to do with this.”

Roades asked “how many miles you put on a car” each year at the HCSO.

“Anywhere from 40 [thousand] to 50,000,” Barrera said. “The total of all the vehicles, probably about 400,000 miles we'll be putting on all the vehicles.”

Barrera added that they use higher-mileage vehicles “for transports” and other non-high-speed situations.

After meeting with the sheriff, Daniels made the motion to authorize the vehicles’ purchase for “2024 or whenever they come in,” which passed, 3-0.

In unrelated approvals, commissioners accepted quotes from BNM Painting and Remodeling for pillar repairs at both the Highland County Courthouse and Administration Building.

“The pillars out front need some attention, especially the ones over at the courthouse,” Britton said.

According to Britton, the quotes they received are $4,500 for the courthouse, which includes removing “rotten wood, installing proper ventilation” and painting, as well as renting a lift; and $1,500 for similar work (and the lift) at the Administration Building.

Roades said he thought the suggestion to add ventilation to the pillars is a “nice long-term” solution, as Daniels said the pillars have been “repaired several times.”

“You've got this big solid tube closed at both ends, and no way of moisture getting out,” Roades said. “That's why they keep popping out the paint.”

Also approved was an upgrade order agreement contract for elevator repair with Schindler Elevator Company. The contract is to make repairs on the Highland County Administration Building elevator, which is currently out of order.

“There are some very long lead times on the parts for this elevator, so it's going to be down for a while,” Britton said.

Daniels added that the county sought multiple quotes “and they were all comparable.

“The Schindler contract appeared to be the least expensive, plus there's some longer-term benefits as far as our maintenance agreement with those folks,” Daniels said. “We’ve probably not going to be able to do that for a couple of years yet because we're still under contract with Otis, but nevertheless, they offer a competitive service for about $2,000 less.”

In other discussion:

• Commissioners met with an area resident with concerns about the Highland County Health Department’s policy not to let individuals filing reports remain anonymous.

According to this man, he filed a report, on condition of anonymity, “to address ongoing health concerns” at a business where he was employed. As a result of his “anonymity being given up” to the business owner, the man said he lost his job, and he alleged that he has also faced threats of “violent retaliation.”

The man said he tried to resolve his concerns with the business owner for approximately two weeks before going to the Health Department, then called the HCHD and told them he “needed to be anonymous.” Within a few hours of his report, he said that the business owner had identified him as the caller.

“The next day, I called the Health Department and spoke to [Highland County Health Commissioner] Jared Warner,” he said. “I told him about being exposed, and he put me on hold while he spoke with the appropriate inspector. Then he told me, yes, the inspector told [the business owner] ‘it was an older gentleman who works there that called.’

“Mr. Warner then told me it was standard procedure for them to do that. Well, me being the only older man working there, they might as well as gave [the business owner] my picture.”

The resident added, “I think this policy should be changed immediately to prevent further retaliation to employees who may have Health Department concerns and lose their job.”

The gentleman asked the commissioners to “take this into consideration” and speak to the Health Department to “see if they can make an anonymous caller really anonymous.”

“We’ll pass this along to the Health Department and talk to Jared,” Britton said.

“Thank you for coming forward and letting us know,” Daniels added.

• At 10 a.m., commissioners attended an alley viewing in Boston, after Paint Township Trustees previously filed a petition to vacate approximately 130 feet of an alley in the area.

According to commission clerk Ashleigh Willey, commissioners tabled a resolution to vacate the alley during a hearing at 11 a.m.

“They will revisit on Nov. 1, as adjoining property owners are still trying to come to an agreement, and we must talk to the Highland County Water Department about a water main and easement,” Willey said.

In other action, commissioners approved the following motions, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A budget modification within Veterans Services in the amount of $6,760.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within Capital Improvement (4050) in the amount of $388,518.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within County Court – Special Project Fund in the amount of $1,000.

• An additional appropriation from unappropriated funds within the Court of Appeals in the amount of $1,650.

• An additional appropriation from unanticipated revenue within the Emergency Management Agency fund in the amount of $9,670.23.

• A budget modification within Repair MVL (2065) in the amount of $36,000.

• A budget modification within Common Pleas Criminal/Civil (2295) in the amount of $1,200.

Commissioners also voted 3-0 to authorize the execution of the following:

• A State of Ohio Community Development Block Grant Program grant agreement contract with the Ohio Department of Development, effective Sept. 1, 2023 to Oct. 31, 2025, for their PY 2023 Critical Infrastructure grant.

• A right-of-way easement agreement with Highland County Commissioners and South Central Power Company for 9585 and 9645 North Shore Road/Drive for electric and fiber lines.

• A contribution-in-aid-of-construction agreement with AEP Ohio for Electric Distribution Services at 526 John Street (the site of the new Ohio State University Extension building).

• A sign-off for a Community Services Block Grant for Highland County Community Action Organization. Britton said it’s “a noncompetitive grant Community Action gets for $351,000 for the upcoming year.”