Commissioners updated on Help Me Grow; Criminal Justice grant secured
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
Commissioners
updated on
Help Me Grow;
legal ad bill
cut by $4,196
By RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
Highland County commissioners discussed staffing of the Help Me Grow program and area unemployment during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Responding to a question from commissioner Tom Horst, commissioner Gary Heaton said Danielle Ratcliff is expected to have a list of “interested
parties” to the commissioners by the end of April.
In December, commissioners appointed 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, toddlers and their families.
Commissioners also met with Luann Winkle, executive director of Turning Point Applied Learning Center, and Jeremy Ratcliff, chief probation officer
for the Highland County Probation Department. Winkle and Ratcliff are working together on an Ohio Criminal Justice Service grant of $482,000 for
20 months.
The grant will fund a program to help reduce criminal recidivism and assist with re-entry into the workforce and community.
Commissioner Shane Wilkin asked if the program would add to county payroll, thus causing unemployment expenses after its conclusion. Ratcliff
said by working with Turning Point, there will be no addition to the county payroll.
“We appreciate the work you put in to acquire this grant,” Heaton said. “It saves the county money and provides needed services.”
Winkle and Ratcliff have obtained almost $1 million in OCJS grants.
* At the request of Highland County Recorder Dwight “Ike” Hodson, it was announced that the Highland County Records Retention Committee will meet
on April 28 at 10:45 a.m. in the Highland County Commissioners Office at 119 Governor Foraker Place.
In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
* The Highland County Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 25 to May 2 as Highland Soil & Water Conservation District 2010 HABITAT
Stewardship Week.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the Victim Witness budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Court Fines & Fees, in the
amount of $119.40.
* The modification of the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer budget as follows: from Supplies to Equipment, $3,000.
* The modification of the Board of DD budget as follows: from Contracts & Services to Workers’ Comp, in the amount of $1,501.34.
* The establishment of a new fund to be known as CDBG/HOME Housing Revolving Loan Fund. This fund will be used by Highland County Community Action Organization for proceeds from the revolving land fund. No appropriation to the fund is made at this time.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the Sheriff’s budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Employee Salaries, in the amount of
$7,774.96. The additional funds are from the Methamphetamine Initiative Grant.
* The authorization of a reimbursement to Help Me Grow (County) as follows: from S-26 (pass-through fund) Reimburse to Help Me Grow (County),
in the amount of $25,000.
Highland County commissioners discussed staffing of the Help Me Grow program and area unemployment during Wednesday’s board meeting.
Responding to a question from commissioner Tom Horst, commissioner Gary Heaton said Danielle Ratcliff is expected to have a list of “interested parties” to the commissioners by the end of April.
In December, commissioners appointed 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, toddlers and their families.
Commissioners also met with Luann Winkle, executive director of Turning Point Applied Learning Center, and Jeremy Ratcliff, chief probation officer for the Highland County Probation Department. Winkle and Ratcliff are working together on an Ohio Criminal Justice Service grant of $482,000 for 20 months.
The grant will fund a program to help reduce criminal recidivism and assist with re-entry into the workforce and community.
Commissioner Shane Wilkin asked if the program would add to county payroll, thus causing unemployment expenses after its conclusion. Ratcliff said by working with Turning Point, there will be no addition to the county payroll.
“We appreciate the work you put in to acquire this grant,” Heaton said. “It saves the county money and provides needed services.”
Winkle and Ratcliff have obtained almost $1 million in OCJS grants.
* At the request of Highland County Recorder Dwight “Ike” Hodson, it was announced that the Highland County Records Retention Committee will meet
on April 28 at 10:45 a.m. in the Highland County Commissioners Office at 119 Governor Foraker Place.
In other action, commissioners approved the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
* The Highland County Commissioners proclaimed the week of April 25 to May 2 as Highland Soil & Water Conservation District 2010 HABITAT Stewardship Week.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the Victim Witness budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Court Fines & Fees, in the amount of $119.40.
* The modification of the Rocky Fork Lake Sewer budget as follows: from Supplies to Equipment, $3,000.
* The modification of the Board of DD budget as follows: from Contracts & Services to Workers’ Comp, in the amount of $1,501.34.
* The establishment of a new fund to be known as CDBG/HOME Housing Revolving Loan Fund. This fund will be used by Highland County Community Action Organization for proceeds from the revolving land fund. No appropriation to the fund is made at this time.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the Sheriff’s budget as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Employee Salaries, in the amount of
$7,774.96. The additional funds are from the Methamphetamine Initiative Grant.
* The authorization of a reimbursement to Help Me Grow (County) as follows: from S-26 (pass-through fund) Reimburse to Help Me Grow (County), in the amount of $25,000.
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