Commissioners updated on new resource website, America 250 celebration plans

Highland County commissioners Brad Roades, Terry Britton and David Daniels heard updates on a new website project spearheaded by the Highland County Health Department as well as progress on the county’s America 250 celebration plans during their Wednesday, Aug. 27 meeting. 

Highland County Health Commissioner Jared Warner and HCHD Director of Nursing Erin Mustard explained the new website, highlandhelps.com, is a grant-funded initiative to connect community members to various local resources, particularly in the areas of “substance abuse and mental health.

“We recognize the need for an easy-to-use resource or website to help individuals access available community services,” Mustard said. “The Highland Helps website was created to serve as a one-stop hub connecting residents to vital resources and support. This site will connect community members to a wide range of resources, including support for substance abuse, housing assistance, domestic violence services, basic needs, mental health support, an employment hub, transportation assistance, specialty groups, faith-based organizations. 

“Also, this site includes a community dashboard offering real-time statistics on overdose trends Ohio, which will enable informed decisions and targeted outreach.”

Mustard added that while Highland County Community Action has a “great resource guide” already, the hope is that this user-friendly site will be “a much easier process” for individuals to find help. 
 
“We hope that this website will simplify the process of finding local resources by bringing them together in one place that supports both professionals making referrals and residents seeking assistance, reducing confusion and improving connections to vital services,” Mustard said.

As mentioned, the Highland Helps site is funded through a grant, as Mustard said it was started using Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) dollars. She added that she will be in charge of updating and maintaining the site.

Commissioners thanked the group for their efforts and for the update.

“There are many services out there, and I could see how it could be very confusing and difficult,” Roades said.

In another local update, Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender and Highland County Visitors Bureau/Chamber of Commerce Director Jamie Wheeler joined commissioners to discuss the county’s upcoming America 250 celebration.

As discussed at their Aug. 13 meeting and in a press release by Wheeler, “On Friday, Sept. 26, Highland County will mark the start of its participation in the America 250-Ohio commemoration with a community event at Liberty Park in Hillsboro. The event, beginning at 3 p.m., will feature the planting of 18 white oak trees – one for Highland County and one for each of its 17 townships – as part of the statewide Heritage Tree Program. The event will take place east of the Highland County Family YMCA’s gravel parking lot which is located at 201 Diamond Drive in Hillsboro.

“The tree planting will serve as the official kickoff of Highland County’s America 250 planning, building momentum toward a multi-day celebration in July 2026 honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary.”    

Each tree will include a granite 10x10 plaque, and commissioners and their clerk and America 250 committee member Ashleigh Willey brought one as an example. According to Roades, the committee is seeking a $250 donation from each township’s trustees to cover the cost of the plaque and the tree. 

Willey said that as of Wednesday, 10 townships have officially committed. Bolender encouraged the community to “reach out to your township trustees if you would like to see your township represented and make sure that they’ve signed on.”

“I don't think we have anywhere in the county where we have all 17 [townships] laid out,” Wheeler said. “It will be neat to see.” 

Roades thanked the committee’s partners for their assistance with the tree project, particularly McCarty Associates for help with the design and Harsha Monument Co. for giving them a reduced rate for the granite plaques and engraving. 

Bolender said that her father, the late John Rittenhouse, was a member of the bicentennial celebration committee in Highland County in 1976, and she is looking forward to continuing that tradition.

“Seeing the county as a whole, coming together and celebrating, and that’s what I want,” Bolender said. “That's what I want for my kids, that's what I want for my grandchild, to be able to to be a part of this and to celebrate 250 years, and to look back on those pictures.

“It’d be fun to take the kids to show them their township’s tree, explain to them about the importance of honoring the last 250 years, and then have a place to go back and remember the fun time. This is just a great kickoff to what we have planned next year.”

Daniels agreed, saying “30 years from now, when people are starting to look and see those mature trees and see those township-represented plaques that are going up, it’s going to mean something.”

Bolender also encouraged the community to attend the tree-planting ceremony and join in the celebration. 

“We welcome all of our county residents and visitors to come and see what Highland County has contributed to our heritage,” Bolender said. “It should be a fun time.”

In other discussion:

• Highland County Auditor Alex Butler reported on the August 2025 permissive sales tax receipts, which showed a 1.31-percent increase over last year with $834,984.16 collected (in June). Year to date, the county has topped $6.5 million, as the $6,563,070.86 total is 1.26-percent higher than the same eight-month total in 2024.

“Always like seeing things in green,” Roades said.

• Highland County Sheriff Randy Sanders said he would be working with other law enforcement agencies to work out arrangements to temporarily house inmates during planned repairs to the jail. 

Sanders also advised that the HCSO is applying for a grant through Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health Center.

• In addition to discussing the America 250 celebration, Wheeler said that other upcoming events include the Chamber of Commerce’s golf outing and STEEL Conference. 

She also briefly discussed the success of the Visitors Bureau’s inaugural scavenger hunt contest, which encouraged residents to visit attractions around the county and/or participate in a number of fun local activities throughout the summer. The competition ends Sept. 15, according to Wheeler.

“We have close to 1,800 submissions at this point, and we have some really nice prized baskets assembled for donations,” she said. “Generations are playing it, so that's really cool to watch, and I've heard numerous times, ‘I’ve lived here my whole life, and I didn't know this place existed,’ and the scavenger hunt has helped them find activities.”

• Steph Roland and Lee Harris of the Highland County Veterans Service Commission invited the community to attend their Jeep Cruise-In fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 20 beginning at 11 a.m. at the Highland County Fairgrounds. The event will also include a cornhole tournament, food trucks, vendors, a 50/50 raffle and more. Proceeds will benefit the Whiteoak High School and Lynchburg Veterans Memorials.

• Warner reported that the Health Department had over 600 tires dropped off during a recent tire recycling event, while the HCHD has also had a “fantastic” response to their community health assessment survey. Next on their agenda is the annual Brake for Breakfast event Oct. 9.  

• Roades reminded the community of the RPHF Solid Waste District’s “Hard-to-Recycle” Collection Day, set for Sept. 6 from 8 a.m.-noon at the Ross County Fairgrounds. A list of acceptable items can be found at http://rphfsolidwastedistrict.com/2025%20HHW%20Event%20Flyer.pdf.

• Roades noted that the Area Agency on Aging District 7 is seeking recommendations for new Highland County representatives on their Board of Trustees. 

• Commissioners said they received a notice from Trileaf Environmental Architecture Engineering/NorthStar Towers II of a proposed new tower in Sinking Spring.

“I believe we have offered comment or intend on offering comment,” Daniels said.

• After commissioners’ regular meeting, they attended a public viewing of an approximately 232.3-foot long alley in New Market Township, west of U.S. 62. Upon returning to their meeting room at Southern State Community College Wednesday morning, commissioners approved a resolution to vacate the alley. 

Commissioners also made the following other  approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A planned maintenance contract with Weller’s Plumbing and Heating for Sept. 30, 2025-Sept. 30, 2026 in the amount of $22,430.

“I know it went up a little bit,” Britton said. “The other thing was, they normally had our software people that takes care of our HVAC tied into this plan, and they have opted to take it out of here.”

• A contract among commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office and the Highland County Fair for HCSO security services at this year’s fair.

• Quotes for work at the jail at the Highland County Justice Center using grant funding, including quotes from Washington Lock Service ($9,450 & $36,421.65); Craftmaster Hardware ($46,950); and Spectra Contract Flooring ($94,900).

• A bid proposal from McCarty Associates LLC for emergency repairs to the damaged roof at the Hi-TEC building.

• Ohio Water Development Authority/contractor fund payment requests for Rocky Fork Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant improvements.

• A resolution to authorize the repayment of one earlier advance from 4240 Upgrades RFL to 1000 County General Fund in the amount of $12,923.45.

• A request from the Board of Elections for a budget modification within the 1000 County General Fund in the amount of $7,000.

• A request from the Veterans Service Commission for a budget modification within the 1000 County General Fund in the amount of $54,925.

• A request from the Veterans Service Commission for a budget modification within the 1000 County General Fund in the amount of $1,031.35.

• A request from the Veterans Service Commission for a budget modification within the 1000 County General Fund in the amount of $1,353.68.

• A resolution permitting the County Engineer to purchase one new 2025 John Deere 6120M Cab Tractor from Ag Pro, not to exceed a total of $97,570.

• A request from the Board of Elections for a budget modification within the 2300-2025 Primary Election Grant Fund in the amount of $25,280.39.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 26 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.