Reimbursements an issue for HMG
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley met with county commissioners Shane Wilkin, Gary Heaton and Tom Horst Wednesday for a review of the Help Me Grow budget and pending administrative changes in the program.
As reported last month by The Highland County Press, commissioners recently named Danielle Ratcliff, coordinator for Highland County Family and Children First Council, as the interim administrator for the Help Me Grow program.
The program 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.
Fawley updated commissioners on the program’s budget for 2010, after meeting Tuesday with former program administrator, Highland County Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Chuck Biggert. A primary concern for Fawley and the commissioners had to do with fund reimbursements from the state.
“Chuck said the main reason he wanted to leave the program was the difficulty in getting state reimbursements,” Fawley said.
“I think the {Help Me Grow} budget is fine, as long as the reimbursements come through.”
Fawley presented a spreadsheet that showed a beginning (left over) balance of $115,351.20, but said “That money is in Columbus.”
“It sounds like our office needs to call Laura Friedman and check on the reimbursements,” Wilkin said.
Friedman is a Help Me Grow program consultant with the Ohio Department of Health.
“It’s fairly simple, we need to call them and see what’s going on,” Wilkin said.
Dog licenses discussed
• Commissioners also discussed the 2010 dog license fees and penalties with the auditor. Dog licenses are on sale through Jan. 31 at several locations in the county. The fees and penalties are outlined on Page 15 of today’s HCP.
Senator’s reps to visit
• Commissioners received an agenda for a Jan. 7 visit (weather permitting) to Highland County by John Ryan, state director for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain, and David Hodapp, the senator’s Appalachian regional director.
The senator’s representatives are scheduled to meet with commissioners, Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber, Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys, Highland County Community Action Organization Executive Director Julia Wise, Highland District Hospital CEO Jim Baer, Highland County One-Stop Manager Rick Thompson and other local officials.
The day’s events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the commissioners office, weather permitting.
Organizational meeting
• Commissioners agreed to hold their 2010 organizational meeting on Monday, Jan. 11.
In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• 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 2010: Estimated expenses for the year 2010: CEAO - Sixteen (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 commissioners have decided that the health, welfare, and safety of the people of Highland County can best and most efficiently be served by the “Force Account” in matters pertaining to the construction,
reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of Highland County roads, bridges, and culverts; and, therefore, it is resolved that the
Board of County Commissioners of Highland County has authorized 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 2010.
• The authorization for the county engineer to purchase a new 2010 Alamo Interstater side and rear mowing system from Southeastern Equipment
Co., Inc., (from the engineer’s budget) not to exceed a total of $27,125.28 including freight, and the further resolution that this purchase is exempt from competitive bidding due to it being purchased through the state of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program.
• The authorization for the county engineer to purchase a new 2010 John Deere 6330 Ag Tractor with selected options from the John Deere Company not to exceed a total of $23,922.71 after trade-in, and the further resolution that this purchase is exempt from competitive bidding due to it being purchased through the state of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program.
• The authorization for Highland County Department of Job and Family Services to purchase the following for calendar year 2010: ADP Accessories and Software; ADP Equipment; ADP Service for agency computers and printers. The cost for the above will not exceed $50,000.
• The acceptance of the reimbursement from the Public Assistance Account for the credit of the County General Fund for central services support for calendar year 2010 as follows: Shared Costs, $13,921 (0270-H000-H15.090); Income Maintenance, $27.851 (0270-H000-H15.090); Soc. Service, $9,556 (0270-H000-H34.090, for a total of $51,328. It was further resolved that the said board accepted the reimbursement from the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) for central services support for calendar year 2010 as follows: $8,250 from 0280-C000-C45.080.
• The establishment of a Highland County Criminal Justice Advisory committee, whereas the Highland County Criminal Justice Committee has
been authorized to serve in the capacity of the Highland County Re-entry Coalition; and whereas the Highland County Re-entry Coalition on Jan. 5, 2010 officially adopted a five-year strategic plan for re-entry services; and whereas the Highland County Board of Commissioners desires to reduce recidivism, ensure successful re-entry, and enhance public safety; and whereas the Highland County Board of Commissioners desires to implement priority projects stated in the Re-entry Plan to achieve those goals; and whereas the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services and the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services has issued a request for proposals to implement re-entry activities funded through the Recovery Act/Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant fund. Therefore, it was resolved that the Highland County Board of Commissioners endorses the adopted five-year re-entry plan, and the Highland County Board of Commissioners are submitting an application to the Recovery Act/Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant fund in the amount of $482,494 to implement priority projects stated in the endorsed reentry plan.[[In-content Ad]]
As reported last month by The Highland County Press, commissioners recently named Danielle Ratcliff, coordinator for Highland County Family and Children First Council, as the interim administrator for the Help Me Grow program.
The program 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.
Fawley updated commissioners on the program’s budget for 2010, after meeting Tuesday with former program administrator, Highland County Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Chuck Biggert. A primary concern for Fawley and the commissioners had to do with fund reimbursements from the state.
“Chuck said the main reason he wanted to leave the program was the difficulty in getting state reimbursements,” Fawley said.
“I think the {Help Me Grow} budget is fine, as long as the reimbursements come through.”
Fawley presented a spreadsheet that showed a beginning (left over) balance of $115,351.20, but said “That money is in Columbus.”
“It sounds like our office needs to call Laura Friedman and check on the reimbursements,” Wilkin said.
Friedman is a Help Me Grow program consultant with the Ohio Department of Health.
“It’s fairly simple, we need to call them and see what’s going on,” Wilkin said.
Dog licenses discussed
• Commissioners also discussed the 2010 dog license fees and penalties with the auditor. Dog licenses are on sale through Jan. 31 at several locations in the county. The fees and penalties are outlined on Page 15 of today’s HCP.
Senator’s reps to visit
• Commissioners received an agenda for a Jan. 7 visit (weather permitting) to Highland County by John Ryan, state director for U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Lorain, and David Hodapp, the senator’s Appalachian regional director.
The senator’s representatives are scheduled to meet with commissioners, Highland County Chamber of Commerce President Katy Farber, Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys, Highland County Community Action Organization Executive Director Julia Wise, Highland District Hospital CEO Jim Baer, Highland County One-Stop Manager Rick Thompson and other local officials.
The day’s events are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. at the commissioners office, weather permitting.
Organizational meeting
• Commissioners agreed to hold their 2010 organizational meeting on Monday, Jan. 11.
In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
• 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 2010: Estimated expenses for the year 2010: CEAO - Sixteen (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 commissioners have decided that the health, welfare, and safety of the people of Highland County can best and most efficiently be served by the “Force Account” in matters pertaining to the construction,
reconstruction, improvement, maintenance, or repair of Highland County roads, bridges, and culverts; and, therefore, it is resolved that the
Board of County Commissioners of Highland County has authorized 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 2010.
• The authorization for the county engineer to purchase a new 2010 Alamo Interstater side and rear mowing system from Southeastern Equipment
Co., Inc., (from the engineer’s budget) not to exceed a total of $27,125.28 including freight, and the further resolution that this purchase is exempt from competitive bidding due to it being purchased through the state of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program.
• The authorization for the county engineer to purchase a new 2010 John Deere 6330 Ag Tractor with selected options from the John Deere Company not to exceed a total of $23,922.71 after trade-in, and the further resolution that this purchase is exempt from competitive bidding due to it being purchased through the state of Ohio Cooperative Purchasing Program.
• The authorization for Highland County Department of Job and Family Services to purchase the following for calendar year 2010: ADP Accessories and Software; ADP Equipment; ADP Service for agency computers and printers. The cost for the above will not exceed $50,000.
• The acceptance of the reimbursement from the Public Assistance Account for the credit of the County General Fund for central services support for calendar year 2010 as follows: Shared Costs, $13,921 (0270-H000-H15.090); Income Maintenance, $27.851 (0270-H000-H15.090); Soc. Service, $9,556 (0270-H000-H34.090, for a total of $51,328. It was further resolved that the said board accepted the reimbursement from the Child Support Enforcement Agency (CSEA) for central services support for calendar year 2010 as follows: $8,250 from 0280-C000-C45.080.
• The establishment of a Highland County Criminal Justice Advisory committee, whereas the Highland County Criminal Justice Committee has
been authorized to serve in the capacity of the Highland County Re-entry Coalition; and whereas the Highland County Re-entry Coalition on Jan. 5, 2010 officially adopted a five-year strategic plan for re-entry services; and whereas the Highland County Board of Commissioners desires to reduce recidivism, ensure successful re-entry, and enhance public safety; and whereas the Highland County Board of Commissioners desires to implement priority projects stated in the Re-entry Plan to achieve those goals; and whereas the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services and the Ohio Department of Job and Family
Services has issued a request for proposals to implement re-entry activities funded through the Recovery Act/Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant fund. Therefore, it was resolved that the Highland County Board of Commissioners endorses the adopted five-year re-entry plan, and the Highland County Board of Commissioners are submitting an application to the Recovery Act/Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant fund in the amount of $482,494 to implement priority projects stated in the endorsed reentry plan.[[In-content Ad]]