Residents share concerns at Highland County commission meeting

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton heard from several concerned citizens who had requested to be placed on the agenda during their Wednesday, July 24 meeting.

The first citizen to speak was a gentleman who asked about his “options” for a lot in Madison Township, which he said he purchased in February 2023. At the time he bought the property, the real estate agent advised that there was access to utilities. He is trying to sell the parcel, but the prospective buyer has been told he is unable to hook into water and sewer for the lot because the village of Greenfield is “not taking new tap-ins.

“I went to the Health Department,” he said. “I said, ‘What's my options if they're denying water and sewage access to that lot?’ She said that I can't put a well there, and I can't put a leach bed because the lot’s not big enough.”

Daniels explained that although the county assisted in obtaining grant funding for that area for “sewer collection lines” decades ago, they yielded “total control and operation of the system” to Greenfield.

“The county really doesn't have anything in this other than providing the initial funding for it,” Daniels said.

Daniels said that his advice would be for the gentleman to speak to the Village of Greenfield and to the Ohio EPA. Britton asked if he had reached out to the village, and the man said he had attended a village council meeting and had an appointment scheduled with city manager Todd Wilkin.

“I would encourage you to sit down with the city administration and say, you know, is this something that you see as a long-term thing, that you're not going to let me hook here or this property hooking ever? Or is this something that until you get some of your capacity issues solved, then you open it up?” Daniels said. “I’d ask them questions like that.

“Perhaps they're getting pressure from another state agency to limit their connection. I, again, encourage you to sit down and really ask some of those questions and see if you can get an answer.”

Daniels added that the commissioners office could also “reach out and ask [the village] what the story is” and communicate any findings back to the property owner.

Also in attendance, on an unrelated issue, was a Highland County couple with various concerns about properties in their township, their township trustees and other matters.

The conversation began with the wife asking who their trustees “are accountable to.”

“The voters,” Daniels said. “They’re responsible to the electorate that puts them in office.”

In response to additional questions, commissioners confirmed that they do not oversee township trustees, while the state audits township finances. Those audits, as well as the trustees’ budget information, are public records, Daniels told them.

Attempts to resolve their concerns about “junkyard” property in the township by speaking with trustees has done “no good,” the couple told commissioners. The wife said that they have made complaints to the EPA and to the land bank.

“Most of what we've said to anyone has fallen on deaf ears,” the wife said.

The couple also asked questions about the legal definitions for township trustees and their role as well as “recourse” for “junkyard” properties and other issues.

“I’m not an attorney,” Daniels said. “I’m not giving you legal advice. But there are laws that allow township trustees to deal with unlicensed junk vehicles. Now, I will tell you what the problem with that is. Yes, there's something that needs cleaned up, but rarely do they have the funding to do it.

“Their money is going into road maintenance and cemeteries and all the things that they're required to take care of. A lot of times they don't have the money to go out and clean up a mess.”

Regarding the trustees’ authority, Daniels referred the couple to the Ohio Revised Code.

Daniels also pointed out that the land bank board is working diligently on acquiring problem properties and pursuing tax foreclosures. “I can't guarantee you that we can move to these things quickly enough, but I can tell you that we're trying,” he said.

The wife brought up another property in the township where she alleged “raw sewage” was present in the yard. Daniels referred her to the Highland County Health Department.

The couple said they have also complained to the Highland County Sheriff’s Office about the properties and alleged potential illegal activities, such as “stabbings” and “drugs.” The wife said they were “laughed out of” the office, although it was by an individual no longer employed there, and asked “What do we do if we can't get law enforcement to help us?” She said they were afraid of what “dangerous people are going to do to our house” for being at the meeting, which is why they are not being named for this article.

Another issue was that the couple said the township is not mowing one of their properties, as trustees allegedly advised it was the county’s responsibility. Commissioners disagreed, as it is a township-owned lot.

They also questioned whether a permit was issued for a new development in the township. Daniels pointed out that there is no “building permit structure anywhere in Highland County” outside of the municipalities.

Daniels said that the commissioners office can contact the township trustees and health department to let them know that they have received complaints, as well as referring the property issues to the land bank.

"I'm sorry that we're not going to be able to satisfy your needs, but we're not,” Daniels said. “Those are the elected officials in your township, and if you're not happy with them, then that's a matter that you need to take up with them. We have no control. The Ohio Revised Code and the laws of the state of Ohio give us no authority over this, so I'm sorry that that's the answer, but that’s the answer.”

In addition, Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders told the couple that they could turn their report in to his office, and Highland County Auditor Alex Butler shared the township’s budget information as submitted to the county with the couple.

“You need to take your thoughts to the trustees,” Britton told the couple. “Go to every meeting that they have.”

“I would suggest also that if there are likeminded individuals in the community that feel the same way you do, to go as a united front, and ask them to address the issues that you want addressed,” Daniels added.

For more from Wednesday’s meeting, go to https://highlandcountypress.com/news/highland-county-commissioners-disc….

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