Commissioners move forward with MARCS funding proposal, Health Department levy; honor 2 county interns

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton revisited discussions on MARCS radio upgrades and a proposed health department tax levy Wednesday, July 3, while the meeting also included recognizing two county interns and speaking with Senator Shane Wilkin.  

Among those in attendance was Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders, one week after a discussion of how the county was going to pay for state-mandated radio improvements.

As discussed in October, EMA Director David Bushelman said that all Multi-Agency Radio Communications System (MARCS) radios will be required to have Link Layer Authentication (LLA) upgrades by July 1, 2025. According to information provided by Bushelman June 26, the county “is responsible for” the Highland County Sheriff’s Office, EMA, Dog Warden, Engineer, Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Court and Municipal Court radios, out of the 20 total agencies that are impacted across the county. The total cost on the county’s side is estimated to be approximately $282,950, while counting other municipalities, it will be around $637,600 altogether.

Bushelman also told commissioners June 26 that the EMA Board has already authorized him to spend the $40,550 needed to cover his agency’s radios (one upgrade and 10 replacements) out of their budget.

Daniels said that Sanders, Bushelman and the county’s ARPA funding coordinator Nicole Oberrecht developed a “funding plan” that would cover “all the EMA radios and all [the HCSO] radios out of the TCAP [Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison] money.”

According to information provided by Oberrecht to The Highland County Press, the Sheriff’s Office will be covering $93,565 for their upgrades.

“I guess the best way to put it was we will be able to satisfy all the needs of your department in one purchase, correct?” Daniels asked the sheriff.

Sanders confirmed that was right, with the exception of a 911 console, for which Britton said that Oberrecht is working on developing a plan.

“We're still working on a funding solution for that, but at least the MARCS radios will be done,” Daniels said.

Oberrecht said that as noted by Bushelman, EMA will be covering their own portion of the radio upgrades and replacements at a cost of $37,037. In addition, “the Engineer will be paying for his portion out of his EMA budget ($8,000), and the remaining departments (courts & dog wardens) will be covered using general funds ($10,200),” Oberrecht said.

In other discussion:

• One week after hearing a proposal from Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner to both condense the Health Department’s two levies into one, and to decrease their tax revenue sought, commissioners voted 3-0 via resolution “to approve the proposed tax levy of replacement with combination and reduction for the Highland County Department of Health for the General Election to be held Nov. 5, 2024.”

“Thank you all,” Warner said. “I appreciate it.”

A handout from Warner to commissioners says the “Health Department is asking the community to pass a 0.70-mill levy on Nov. 5, 2024. This levy will be a combined and reduced levy, meaning that the overall amount of taxes collected from Highland County property owners will be less than the current health department levy rates. Passing this levy will reduce taxes, while still giving the health department funds for operation.” Currently, the Health Department has two half-mill levies.

• As noted, two interns working with Highland County offices through the Highland County ACCESS (Alignment of Community Connections for Employer and Student Success),program were also recognized.

Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender introduced Janyia Hudson-Childers, who is an incoming junior entering the information program at Laurel Oaks. Hudson-Childers “created the entire website” for the county’s economic development office during her internship, Bolender said.

“I was impressed with Janyia from the minute she walked in the door until the minute we hit publish on that website,” she told commissioners. “I think she's well on her way to a very promising career in the future, and anybody would be lucky to have her.”

The department’s new website is live now and can be accessed at https://www.develophighlandcountyohio.com.

“It looks amazing, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out,” Bolender said. “It highlights our industrial parks, commercial and business real estate property that we have for sale and a lot of the great things going on in the county, including the ACCESS program.”

The other intern was Halle Jones, an incoming senior at Hillsboro working with county records manager Julie Wallingford on the county’s ongoing records storage and archiving.

“She has really experienced a lot of different parts of the record organization and documentation,” Wallingford said of Jones. “She has been such a great worker. I mean, I can tell her what I need and she just does it. She has really good attention to detail.

“I’m hoping she might want to stay, but anyone would be really lucky to have her.”

According to the ACEESS website (www.accesshighland.org), “The ACCESS program is designed to offer valuable opportunities for local businesses to host student interns, providing a bridge between education and the workforce. ACCESS interns collaborate closely with their home school districts, actively cultivating essential skills sought after in employees. After comprehensive assessments, these students undergo tailored education and coaching to address weaknesses and fortify strengths, ensuring their readiness for entrance into the workforce during internship opportunities and upon graduation.
 
“Participating in the ACCESS program allows community businesses to establish meaningful connections with interns and their peers before their high school graduation, presenting the prospect of securing highly qualified future employees.”

As previously reported, commissioners voted in in January to hire a then-HHS senior, Maddisen Mikkelsen, on a part-time basis after she successfully completed an internship with the county’s HR and records departments.

“The ACCESS program has given us one completed internship that we have picked that individual up on a part-time basis to continue to work with the records project,” Daniels said. “It's been a good experience for them, and hopefully you will have the same opportunity if you work out and if you want to stick around for a little while.”

Commissioners and others in attendance gave each intern a round of applause before gathering for a group photo.

“We just wanted to take a minute and recognize the good work that they've done and highlight a little bit of the program and what it can be,” Daniels said. “We’re proud of the young people that come in and help us out with the projects that we've got.”

In addition to the ACCESS program, Bolender said that Highland County Community Action Organization deputy director Tara Campbell advised that internship opportunities and summer jobs for teens are still available through their Summer Youth Program.
 
“It’s available to every youth in Highland County,” Bolender said. “You would just call her out at [OhioMeansJobs], and she can work on getting you set up on an internship. It sounds like we have two successful ones right now.”

For more information on the summer program, call (937) 393-1933 or (937) 981-9718.

• • •

Also visiting the commission meeting was State Senator (and former Highland County commissioner) Shane Wilkin, as the Senate is in its summer recess. Senator Wilkin represents the 17th District in the Ohio Senate, which includes Highland, Fayette, Gallia, Hocking, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Vinton counties and part of Perry County.

Daniels thanked Wilkin for securing funding for Highland County in recent weeks.

“Everybody puts forth good projects, and it's tough to make those decisions,” Daniels said. “We appreciate all that you’ve done.”

As previously reported, and mentioned by Daniels, among that funding was a recently announced $1 million commitment to the Highland County Engineer’s Office from the One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund (OTSCIF).

According to a press release from Wilkin’s office, the $1 million “will support building a new truck barn to accommodate over 20 trucks.” In 2022, Engineer Chris Fauber submitted to commissioners a $1.4 million proposal to build a new 115’x160’ truck/equipment storage facility, replacing an approximately 50-year-old structure.  

In addition, the state’s capital budget includes $170,000 to renovate the East End Overlook Retreat Banquet Center at Rocky Fork Lake, while the Highland County Agricultural Society was recently awarded $106,831.54 for upgrades through the Ohio County and Independent Fairs Grant Program.

“It's nice to be in a position where we can send some tax dollars back to the district, throughout nine and a half counties,” Wilkin said. “There was a lot of requests. For the one-time funds, we had $350 million available that the Senate was going to hand out, and of that $350 million, just in my district — in my nine counties — my request was $382 million.”

• Commissioners voted to accept several estimates related to improvements at county buildings/property.

The first and largest quote was a $124,015 estimate from Spectra Contract Flooring to replace the flooring in the Administration Building, which Daniels said “probably hasn’t been replaced in 30 years.”

Also approved were a $1,850 quote from Parry Landscapes and Lawncare for landscaping at the new Ohio State University Extension office at the Highland County Fairgrounds; a $1,650 quote from Tru-Quality Services LLC for vegetation control at the Mowrystown sewer; and a $1,243 estimate to repaint a conference room at the Highland County Courthouse.

• Commissioners authorized an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to County – Advances Out in the amount of $850,528.26. Also requested is an advance to Upgrade RFL in the amount of $850,528.26. Also requested is an additional appropriation to 4240 in the amount of $850,528.26.

“That money is being moved to pay for the upgrades to Rocky Fork Lake’s sewer,” Daniels said. “We advanced that out of the county's funds, and then we will get reimbursed for that money at a later period when we submit the paperwork.”

• Commissioners approved an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds in the amount of $2,033 within the 4070 Leesburg Industrial Park fund.

• Commissioners approved a request from County Airport to create a new line item within the County Airport (4220) fund. Also requested is a budget modification within 4220 County Airport in the amount of $3,100.

• A State Capital Improvements Program project grant/loan agreement among commissioners, Ohio Public Works Commission and the Highland County Engineer for CR 5 New Market Road reconstruction and resurfacing was approved.

• Commissioners authorized Daniels to appoint Cathy Faulconer as a Highland County representative on the Paint Valley ADAMH Board.

• After their regular meeting, commissioners held a work session with Wallingford to discuss records storage.

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