Commissioners hear positive news from clerk of courts; sign proclamations for Hospice, Homeless Shelter
Lead Summary
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
With two members present, the Highland County Board of Commissioners met Nov. 9 and received positive news from Highland County Clerk of Courts Ike Hodson.
Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst indicated at the 8:44 a.m. call to order of Wednesday's meeting they did not know why Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer was not in attendance. Horst later reported that Shaffer was attending a government meeting in Columbus.
Shaffer told The Highland County Press on Thursday he had attended a meeting with the rail commission, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop and other public officials to discuss the rail line in Greenfield.
During his presentation to commissioners, Hodson released copies of a new postage machine contract entered into with Neopost that over a four-year period will result in $8,384.08 in savings from the office's previous contract with another vendor.
"This should help a little," Hodson said, "not a lot, but every little bit helps."
Hodson also provided Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst with an overview of ongoing efforts to collect court costs. The clerk's office is working with Capital Recovery Systems in an effort to recover more than $450,000 in past due accounts.
"We've set a lot of people up on payment plans. Some are as low as $10 a month – but it's $10 we didn't have. We're trying," Hodson said. "I think the process is working."
• In other business, the all-Republican commission was asked by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission to endorse a "no" vote on Senate Amendment 800, introduced by Republican Sen. Dr. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. The Coburn amendment would reduce funding for Rural Development by $1 billion. Last week, U.S. senators rejected the amendment by an 85 to 13 vote.
Wilkin said he did not anticipate any action this week by the commissioners.
• When asked, in light of recent talks of a performance audit for the city of Hillsboro, if the county had entertained similar discussions, Wilkin said, "We have discussed it. But with our budget being reduced (by more than $2 million), it would not behoove us to do it. We are in better financial shape than we were three years ago, but we're still not in what I would call great financial shape."
• Commissioners met with Outreach Specialist Sandra White of Highland County Recycling and signed off on a recycling grant application for next year.
• Commissioners proclaimed the month of November 2011 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and encourage citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs. Hospice and palliative care offer the highest-quality services and supports to patients and family caregivers facing serious and life-limiting illness. Hospice care and palliative care providers take the time to ask what is important to those they are caring for and listen to what their patients and families say. Skilled and compassionate hospice and palliative care professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides and clergy, provide comprehensive care focused on the wishes of each individual patient.
• Commissioners proclaimed the week of Nov. 12-20 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Highland County and encourage all citizens to recognize that many people do not have housing and need support from citizens and private/public nonprofit entities. The purpose of the proclamation is to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless, including the shortage of affordable housing in Highland County for very low-income residents and to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities for students and school service organizations. There are many organizations, such as the Highland County Homeless Shelter, Samaritan Outreach, New Life Ministries and Our Daily Bread, that are committed to sheltering and providing supportive services as well as meals and food supplies to the homeless. The theme of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2011 is "Bringing America Home."
• Highland County department managers had a luncheon meeting with state auditors Nov. 9 to go over a few procedural issues, Wilkin said.
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Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst indicated at the 8:44 a.m. call to order of Wednesday's meeting they did not know why Commissioner Jeremy Shaffer was not in attendance. Horst later reported that Shaffer was attending a government meeting in Columbus.
Shaffer told The Highland County Press on Thursday he had attended a meeting with the rail commission, Greenfield City Manager Betty Bishop and other public officials to discuss the rail line in Greenfield.
During his presentation to commissioners, Hodson released copies of a new postage machine contract entered into with Neopost that over a four-year period will result in $8,384.08 in savings from the office's previous contract with another vendor.
"This should help a little," Hodson said, "not a lot, but every little bit helps."
Hodson also provided Commissioners Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst with an overview of ongoing efforts to collect court costs. The clerk's office is working with Capital Recovery Systems in an effort to recover more than $450,000 in past due accounts.
"We've set a lot of people up on payment plans. Some are as low as $10 a month – but it's $10 we didn't have. We're trying," Hodson said. "I think the process is working."
• In other business, the all-Republican commission was asked by the Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission to endorse a "no" vote on Senate Amendment 800, introduced by Republican Sen. Dr. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. The Coburn amendment would reduce funding for Rural Development by $1 billion. Last week, U.S. senators rejected the amendment by an 85 to 13 vote.
Wilkin said he did not anticipate any action this week by the commissioners.
• When asked, in light of recent talks of a performance audit for the city of Hillsboro, if the county had entertained similar discussions, Wilkin said, "We have discussed it. But with our budget being reduced (by more than $2 million), it would not behoove us to do it. We are in better financial shape than we were three years ago, but we're still not in what I would call great financial shape."
• Commissioners met with Outreach Specialist Sandra White of Highland County Recycling and signed off on a recycling grant application for next year.
• Commissioners proclaimed the month of November 2011 as National Hospice and Palliative Care Month and encourage citizens to increase their understanding and awareness of care at the end of life and to observe this month with appropriate activities and programs. Hospice and palliative care offer the highest-quality services and supports to patients and family caregivers facing serious and life-limiting illness. Hospice care and palliative care providers take the time to ask what is important to those they are caring for and listen to what their patients and families say. Skilled and compassionate hospice and palliative care professionals, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, counselors, health aides and clergy, provide comprehensive care focused on the wishes of each individual patient.
• Commissioners proclaimed the week of Nov. 12-20 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Highland County and encourage all citizens to recognize that many people do not have housing and need support from citizens and private/public nonprofit entities. The purpose of the proclamation is to educate the public about the many reasons people are hungry and homeless, including the shortage of affordable housing in Highland County for very low-income residents and to encourage support for homeless assistance service providers as well as community service opportunities for students and school service organizations. There are many organizations, such as the Highland County Homeless Shelter, Samaritan Outreach, New Life Ministries and Our Daily Bread, that are committed to sheltering and providing supportive services as well as meals and food supplies to the homeless. The theme of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week 2011 is "Bringing America Home."
• Highland County department managers had a luncheon meeting with state auditors Nov. 9 to go over a few procedural issues, Wilkin said.
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