Commissioners honor Ruth Kowalewsky for community service

Highland County Commissioners Jeremy Shaffer, Shane Wilkin and Tom Horst honored Ruth Kowalewsky during the March 21 board meeting, for her many hours of volunteer service to the community.

Highland County Board of Elections officials Debbie Craycraft and Samantha Matthews were on hand for the recognition.

The commissioners’ letter of appreciation to Mrs. Kowalewsky reads:

Ruth Kowalewsky has generously volunteered her time to the Board of Elections since 2008. The total number of hours that she has donated has been approximately 2,188, which amounts to a savings in excess of $17,500 to Highland County.  

In addition to the gift of her time, Ruth and her husband Andrew have donated and planted flowers at the Board of Elections, giving the building and grounds a warm and inviting appearance. Ruth and Andrew maintain the landscaped flower beds throughout the growing season.

Mrs. Kowalewsky is an involved community member. She attends the weekly Board of Commissioners’ meeting to keep current with the happenings of the county.  She is also a devoted animal activist, giving one to two days per week helping with the care of the animals at the pet shelter.

We wish to honor Ruth today with this Letter of Appreciation for all that she does for our community to make it a better place for all of us to live and to work. Thank you, Ruth!

In other action:

• Commissioners met with Highland County Common Pleas Court Judge Rocky Coss regarding a new contract with the Adult Parole Authority. Horst made a motion to accept the contract. The motion passed by a 3-0 vote.

• Commissioners met with Highland County Prosecuting Attorney Anneka Collins. Collins informed the commission that the paperwork for delinquent land taxes and foreclosure notices has been completed. “So, contrary to rumor, it’s not an option to pay your property taxes?” Shaffer asked. “No, it’s not,” Collins replied.

• Shaffer updated commissioners on recent discussions about area counties merging Help Me Grow programs and Family and Children First Councils.

This would be two separate possible consolidations, Shaffer said.

Help Me Grow (HMG) is Ohio’s birth to 3 system that provides state and federal funds to county Family and Children First Councils to be used in conjunction with state, local and other federal funds to implement and maintain a coordinated, community-based infrastructure that promotes trans-disciplinary, family-centered services for expectant parents, newborns, infants and toddlers and their families. The Ohio Department of Health, Bureau of Early Intervention Services is the lead agency administering the HMG program in Ohio.

Ohio Family and Children First (OFCF) is statutorily defined as the governor’s Cabinet for children and families that was established in 1993 by Section 121.37 of the Ohio Revised Code. The OFCF Cabinet Council is comprised of the directors from 11 state agencies (ODA, ODADAS, ODODD, ODE, ODH, ODJFS, ODMH, ODRC, ODYS, ORSC, and OBM) and the governor’s office. The governor or his designee chairs the OFCF Cabinet Council. Locally, the county commissioners regulate the 88 county Family and Children First Councils. 

According to Shaffer, the local Help Me Grow program has had issues with the Ohio Department of Health regarding carryover funding from the previous fiscal year. 

• Wilkin reported that he recently toured several area businesses, including PAS Technologies, C-Mold, Johnson Controls and Candle-lite, with Kevin Hoggatt, director of development and special projects for U.S. Senator Rob Portman.

These local businesses stressed the importance of a safe and functioning rail line to the senator’s representative, Wilkin said.

• It was announced that the re-formed EMA Advisory Board will meet at 7 p.m. April 4 in the administration building’s basement conference room.

• The March 28 commissioners’ meeting will begin at 10 a.m.