Commissioners hold first meeting of 2011 WATCH THE VIDEO

The Highland County Board of Commissioners held its first meeting of 2011 Wednesday, Jan. 5 and welcomed new commissioner Jeremy Shaffer, a Lynchburg Republican and former mayor of Lynchburg.

Commissioners will meet on Monday, Jan. 10 at 8:30 a.m. to conduct the annual organizational meeting, to elect a board president and establish the time and day of the regular meetings. The Highland County commissioners are Shaffer, Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin.

Ohio's 86th District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger also attended the Jan. 5 meeting and promised to work with commissioners on legislative issues from Columbus.

Commissioners accepted a letter of resignation for Susan Emery on the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• The authorization of a modification to and an advance from the General Fund to the 911 Wireless Personnel budget as follows: modification from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to County Miscellaneous, Advances Out for $3,389.36; and transfer from County Miscellaneous, Advance Out to Wireless Personnel (Sheriff) for

$3,389.36. The advance will be returned to the General Fund by voucher from the 911 Wireless fund on Jan. 12, 2011, and the balance of $20,473.14 will be paid to the S-59 fund.

• The authorization of a transfer to Madison Township Debt Retirement as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Madison Township Debt Retirement, Loan No. 92-04, for $181.08. This transfer will complete the pay-off of Loan No. 92-04 with USDA Rural Development.

• The authorization of a modification to and an advance from the General Fund to the CDBG Block Grant as follows: modification from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to County Miscellaneous, Advances Out, for $2,000; and transfer from County Miscellaneous, Advances out to Block Grant FY 10 for $2,000.

• The appointment of Susan Zurface, Attorney, to the Law Library Resources board, effective Jan. 5 and ending Dec. 31, 2013. Zurface will complete the term of former Southern state Community College Professor Bill Horne.

• The approval of a blanket resolution to cover all travel of P. Dean Otworth, P.E., P.S., Highland County Engineer, to the following meetings and all additional meetings as necessary for 2011: CEAO – 16 Board Meetings and Committee Meetings, $1,600; CCAO/CEAO, Winter & Summer Conference, $1,400; Seminar Expense (Tax Map, ESRI, Mech./Supr., etc.), $1,200; NACE Conference, $2,000.

• The authorization of the Highland County Engineer to use the existing county employee forces and proceed by "Force Account" in the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of roads, bridges and culverts as determined by the County Engineer in Highland County during the year 2011.

• Commissioners also wrote the following letter in support of FRS to the Ohio Department of Transportation:

"The Highland County Board of Commissioners supports the FRS Transportation application for the 2011 Specialized Transportation Program Grant to purchase two vehicles for the agency. FRS partners with various agencies in Highland County, providing a high level of coordination and collaboration. Transportation for the handicapped,

job training, and counseling are only a few services provided to Highland County residents. FRS provides transportation to disadvantaged residents who could not otherwise access valuable programs provided in Highland County. We ask that you approve the grant for FRS Transportation so that they may continue to provide vital transportation services to those who need it most."

The Highland County Board of Commissioners held its first meeting of 2011 Wednesday, Jan. 5 and welcomed new commissioner Jeremy Shaffer, a Lynchburg Republican and former mayor of Lynchburg.

Commissioners will meet on Monday, Jan. 10 at 8:30 a.m. to conduct the annual organizational meeting, to elect a board president and establish the time and day of the regular meetings. The Highland County commissioners are Shaffer, Tom Horst and Shane Wilkin.

Ohio's 86th District Rep. Cliff Rosenberger also attended the Jan. 5 meeting and promised to work with commissioners on legislative issues from Columbus.

Commissioners accepted a letter of resignation for Susan Emery on the Highland County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

In other action, commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:

• The authorization of a modification to and an advance from the General Fund to the 911 Wireless Personnel budget as follows: modification from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to County Miscellaneous, Advances Out for $3,389.36; and transfer from County Miscellaneous, Advance Out to Wireless Personnel (Sheriff) for

$3,389.36. The advance will be returned to the General Fund by voucher from the 911 Wireless fund on Jan. 12, 2011, and the balance of $20,473.14 will be paid to the S-59 fund.

• The authorization of a transfer to Madison Township Debt Retirement as follows: from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to Madison Township Debt Retirement, Loan No. 92-04, for $181.08. This transfer will complete the pay-off of Loan No. 92-04 with USDA Rural Development.

• The authorization of a modification to and an advance from the General Fund to the CDBG Block Grant as follows: modification from County Miscellaneous, Transfers to County Miscellaneous, Advances Out, for $2,000; and transfer from County Miscellaneous, Advances out to Block Grant FY 10 for $2,000.

• The appointment of Susan Zurface, Attorney, to the Law Library Resources board, effective Jan. 5 and ending Dec. 31, 2013. Zurface will complete the term of former Southern state Community College Professor Bill Horne.

• The approval of a blanket resolution to cover all travel of P. Dean Otworth, P.E., P.S., Highland County Engineer, to the following meetings and all additional meetings as necessary for 2011: CEAO – 16 Board Meetings and Committee Meetings, $1,600; CCAO/CEAO, Winter & Summer Conference, $1,400; Seminar Expense (Tax Map, ESRI, Mech./Supr., etc.), $1,200; NACE Conference, $2,000.

• The authorization of the Highland County Engineer to use the existing county employee forces and proceed by "Force Account" in the construction, reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of roads, bridges and culverts as determined by the County Engineer in Highland County during the year 2011.

• Commissioners also wrote the following letter in support of FRS to the Ohio Department of Transportation:

"The Highland County Board of Commissioners supports the FRS Transportation application for the 2011 Specialized Transportation Program Grant to purchase two vehicles for the agency. FRS partners with various agencies in Highland County, providing a high level of coordination and collaboration. Transportation for the handicapped, job training, and counseling are only a few services provided to Highland County residents. FRS provides transportation to disadvantaged residents who could not otherwise access valuable programs provided in Highland County. We ask that you approve the grant for FRS Transportation so that they may continue to provide vital transportation services to those who need it most."