Highland County commissioners OK Fayette Solar PILOT; county permissive sales tax receipts surpass $4.6M

Highland County commissioners Terry Britton, David Daniels and Brad Roades approved a resolution for a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for Fayette Solar, LLC and received the county’s permissive sales tax receipt report during their Wednesday, June 21 meeting.

The commission voted 3-0 to authorize the resolution to approve the qualified energy project application for certification.

As previously reported, Victoria Orchard of National Grid Renewables sent a copy of a qualified energy project (QEP) tax exemption application for Fayette Solar, LLC to commissioners in April. Under the Ohio Revised Code, the commission is required to “adopt a resolution … approving or rejecting the project’s application for certification,” their resolution says.

The project, which includes parcels in both Fayette and Highland counties (Madison Township area), is proposed as an “up to 47.5MW solar energy generating system,” according to the application. The substation would be in Highland County, “near the intersection of Lovers Lane and East Martinsburg Road.”

According to the resolution approved Wednesday, the “amount of the annual PILOT shall be $7,000 per megawatt,” and “the amount of the additional annual service payment shall be $2,000 per megawatt,” for a combined $9,000 per megawatt — the maximum allowable under state law. This is the same amount as previously approved PILOT resolutions for other solar projects in the county.

In other discussion:

• Highland County Auditor Alex Butler shared the county’s permissive sales tax receipt report for June. Although their monthly total saw a decrease from June 2022, the county has surpassed $4.6 million in receipts at the halfway point of 2023.

For June 2023, the county collected $790,560.82, which is an increase of $66,508.22 over May’s totals but a decrease of $86,367.49 compared to June 2022.

Year to date, the county is reporting $4,626,023.09 in permissive sales tax receipts. At this point in 2022 — a record year for permissive sales tax receipts — the county had received $4,532,288.67.

“We're halfway through the year now, so we're starting to get a little bit of resolution where we may end up by the end of the year,” Butler said. “We’re on par to be in the vicinity of what we received last year.”

• Commissioners voted 3-0 to authorize the issuance of $176,323 in equipment acquisition bonds, in response to a previously approved resolution for the Highland County Engineer’s Office.

On June 7, commissioners had voted to authorize Engineer Chris Fauber to purchase a 2023 Kobelco Model SK210LC-11 Excavator from Southeastern Equipment Co, Inc., not to exceed $176,323.

“A couple of weeks ago, Chris came in and spoke to us about buying a piece of equipment,” Daniels said Wednesday. “It's going to be bonded, so we had to get bond counsel involved.

“They've advised us that we need to take a step back in and then reauthorize that funding.”

Brenda Wehmer, bond counsel from Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, brought paperwork for county officials to sign Wednesday.

• Commissioners noted that they attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at KAMP Dovetail Tuesday for their new horse barn.

The annual camp for children with special needs at Rocky Fork State Park, presented by SATH (Supplementary Assistance to the Handicapped), is in its 41st year.

“It was very well attended,” Britton said. “We do thank the state. They came down, and they were a big, big part of this. We just want to thank them for their partnership that they've had with KAMP Dovetail.”

After Wednesday’s meeting, all three commissioners were heading back to KAMP Dovetail to grill hamburgers and serve lunch to hundreds of campers and volunteers.

• Ted McReynolds of the Friends of the Highland County Dog Pound organization met with commissioners to ask for updates on several issues related to the county dog pound.

First, McReynolds asked if the county had made any progress in their search for an additional dog warden. Britton said the county Human Resources department is reviewing résumés, while Daniels said they have “resubmitted their request for applications” to include full-time employment.

“We were hoping to find a couple part-timers to split it up and give more opportunity for longer office hours, but we’re kind of looking at our options to get the best possible candidate,” Daniels said.

McReynolds then asked about possibly having a county employee volunteering to help him and the dog wardens send photos of dogs to rescues, as his group’s goal is to “get [the dogs] moved out” of the pound.

Britton said it has been “talked about,” while Daniels said they are hoping whoever is hired as the third dog warden will be “more kennel-based” and able to handle some of those responsibilities as well as to ensure the shelter is open for potential adoptions. He added that the current two wardens have been encouraged to be “actively engaged in finding rescues and homes” for the dogs.

“They’ve always been good on that,” McReynolds said.

McReynolds’ third question was whether the county had “any thoughts” on the “acoustics” at the new shelter. Britton said they could “get back to him” on that, but Daniels pointed out, “Anytime you put 40 dogs in any kind of enclosure, it’s going to be loud.”

• Commissioners held an executive session for approximately 18 minutes to discuss compensation. No action was taken.

In other approvals:

• Commissioners determined various items were no longer needed for public use, are obsolete and/or unfit for the use for which the property was acquired, and the property has no value. Pursuant to ORC 307.12(I), the commissioners voted via resolution that the listed property may be donated to a nonprofit organization and donated the items to the Highland County Historical Society, Veterans Honor Guard and Sons of the American Revolution Highlanders
Chapter.

• Commissioners voted via resolution to authorize the county to sell surplus equipment at public auction on June 24 at 10 a.m., located at the Highland County Sheriff’s Office. As previously reported, the sale conducted by Rick Williams Auction Co. will include several trucks, vans and cars; a gun; tools; office supplies; and other miscellaneous items.  

• Commissioners authorized the sale of a 2007 Chevrolet AM and a 1998 Ford AM E30 for $1 each to the Brushcreek Life Squad.

“These are squad vehicles that were purchased by the county that were given to the Brushcreek Life Squad, and they are looking to use those as trade-in value,” Daniels said.

• In separate resolutions, commissioners authorized the renaming of fund 2615 to CCA 2.0 FY 24/25 and an additional appropriation of $199,877; and authorized the renaming of fund 2620 to PSG FY 24/25 and an additional appropriation of $74,650.

“These are requests from the probation department for grants that they're receiving to run their operations,” Daniels said.

• Commissioners approved three separate contracts awarding 2023 Recycling and Litter Management Grants to the villages of Greenfield, Highland and Leesburg. During their June 14 meeting, commissioners agreed to award the grants as follows: Village of Highland, $1,174.50; Village of Leesburg, $2,000; and Village of Greenfield, $2,000.
 
• Commissioners voted 3-0 to issue a letter of support regarding cybersecurity.