Business model sought for proposed merger of Children Services, JFS
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
The Highland County Board of Commissioners moved a step closer this week to its consideration of a merger between the county’s departments of jobs and family services and children services – a route taken by 55 other Ohio counties.
In order to enact the proposal, commissioners would either have to vote unanimously in favor of combining the agencies or the Highland County Children Services board would need a majority vote.
Commissioners met Wednesday with Highland County Children Services Director Wendy Jacobs, members of the HCCS board, Debbie Robbins, JFS executive director, and Dr. Mark Brooker, Clinton County administrator/director of economic development and former JFS director.
Jacobs, who had previously informed the commissioners that she did not see the benefits to the potential merger, reiterated her concerns this week. "I'm opposed to it," she said. "Everything I see shows a negative impact for both agencies. But if you decide to do it, Debbie and I will work together."
Brooker, who has helped Clinton County combine its agencies, was asked to address the issue by the county commissioners.
"The biggest thing is the spirit of cooperation," he said. "When it first happened (in Clinton County, it was like the Berlin Wall coming down. We had people who were very protective of their department. There were some lengthy and hot discussions over a period of time. People started realizing it was not a territorial issue, it was an economics issue."
Commissioners said they were trying to be proactive in the event additional cuts in state funding are implemented.
"There's got to be a reason that 55 Ohio counties have done this and no one's gone back to stand-alone agencies," Commission President Shane Wilkin said. "It seems like there's a way to save money."
Wilkin said he had asked Highland County Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probate Judge Kevin Greer to discuss the issue with other counties. "Basically, Judge Greer said for anybody who's got money, stand-alone is fine; but if you don't have money, you look at combining."
"The leadership has to be committed to make it work," Commissioner Gary Heaton said. "We have to do the best we can with whatever department comes out of this."
"In a combined agency, all of the essential services must be covered first," Brooker said. "When you look at the numbers, it (combining agencies) gives you greater flexibility. And if Ohio cuts your budget 20 percent next year, you're going to be looking at it anyway."
"The next strep would be a proposed business model," Commissioner Tom Horst said. Commissioners asked Brooker if he were able to work with HCCS and JFS on the business plan. Brooker said, with the Clinton County commissioners' consent, he would assist Jacobs and Robbins.
Commissioners said they hoped to have a business model in place before the end of this year.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners moved a step closer this week to its consideration of a merger between the county’s departments of jobs and family services and children services – a route taken by 55 other Ohio counties.
In order to enact the proposal, commissioners would either have to vote unanimously in favor of combining the agencies or the Highland County Children Services board would need a majority vote.
Commissioners met Wednesday with Highland County Children Services Director Wendy Jacobs, members of the HCCS board, Debbie Robbins, JFS executive director, and Dr. Mark Brooker, Clinton County administrator/director of economic development and former JFS director.
Jacobs, who had previously informed the commissioners that she did not see the benefits to the potential merger, reiterated her concerns this week. "I'm opposed to it," she said. "Everything I see shows a negative impact for both agencies. But if you decide to do it, Debbie and I will work together."
Brooker, who has helped Clinton County combine its agencies, was asked to address the issue by the county commissioners.
"The biggest thing is the spirit of cooperation," he said. "When it first happened (in Clinton County), it was like the Berlin Wall coming down. We had people who were very protective of their department. There were some lengthy and hot discussions over a period of time. People started realizing it was not a territorial issue, it was an economics issue."
Commissioners said they were trying to be proactive in the event additional cuts in state funding are implemented.
"There's got to be a reason that 55 Ohio counties have done this and no one's gone back to stand-alone agencies," Commission President Shane Wilkin said. "It seems like there's a way to save money."
Wilkin said he had asked Highland County Common Pleas Court Juvenile and Probate Judge Kevin Greer to discuss the issue with other counties. "Basically, Judge Greer said for anybody who's got money, stand-alone is fine; but if you don't have money, you look at combining."
"The leadership has to be committed to make it work," Commissioner Gary Heaton said. "We have to do the best we can with whatever department comes out of this."
"In a combined agency, all of the essential services must be covered first," Brooker said. "When you look at the numbers, it (combining agencies) gives you greater flexibility. And if Ohio cuts your budget 20 percent next year, you're going to be looking at it anyway."
"The next step would be a proposed business model," Commissioner Tom Horst said. Commissioners asked Brooker if he were able to work with HCCS and JFS on the business plan. Brooker said, with the Clinton County commissioners' consent, he would assist Jacobs and Robbins.
Commissioners said they hoped to have a business model in place before the end of this year.
RESOLUTIONS
[[In-content Ad]]RESOLUTIONS
In other Wednesday action, the Highland County Board of Commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Indigent Drivers Alcohol Treatment budget as follows: from Unappropriated funds to Other Expense, in the amount of $6,000.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Maintenance & Operations, as follows: from Repairs to Supplies in the amount of $500.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Attorney-Indigent Fees, to County Miscellaneous, Salary-Indigent-Stenographer, in the amount of $387.
• The authorization of a modification to the General Fund as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Group & Liability, to Commissioners, Other Expense, in the amount of $7,000.
• The authorization of additional appropriation to the CAO Housing Rehabilitation budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Expenses in the amount of $7,436. The additional funds are from the CHIP grant.
• The acceptance of the resignation of Darrell Tissot from the Children Services Board, effective Sept. 7, 2010.
• The authorization of additional appropriation to the Engineer's budget as follows: from Unappropriated funds to Contracts/Services in the amount of $802.96.
• The authorization of a modification to the Board of Developmental Disabilities budget as follows: from Salary Employees to Other Expense in the amount of $10,000.
• The authorization of a new line-item in the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) budget and modification of the budget as follows: the creation of the new line item Unemployment Compensation and the modification from Other Expense to Unemployment Compensation in the amount of $18,000.