City of Hillsboro should not wade into former pool acquisition

By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press

Here we go again. Maybe.

At the March 2 Hillsboro Finance Committee meeting, committee members sent a proposal to acquire the former city pool on West Main Street to the full Hillsboro City Council for consideration.

As a longtime Hillsboro taxpayer and business owner, I would respectfully advise against it. In addition to the necessary repairs and upkeep to the property, there also are matters of security and liability. All of these things are costly for taxpayers.(And for the record, not a single person has complained to this newspaper since the old pool closed.)

Moreover, there is a possible legal issue of any pending acquisition. 

According to the Highland County Auditor's Office website, Hillsboro Mayor Justin Harsha owns the 3.57-acre Main Street pool property. Therein lies a potential problem.

Ohio Revised Code Section 29.21.42 (in part) states:

(A) No public official shall knowingly do any of the following: 

(1) Authorize, or employ the authority or influence of the public official's office to secure authorization of any public contract in which the public official, a member of the public official's family, or any of the public official's business associates has an interest;

(2) Authorize, or employ the authority or influence of the public official's office to secure the investment of public funds in any share, bond, mortgage, or other security, with respect to which the public official, a member of the public official's family, or any of the public official's business associates either has an interest, is an underwriter, or receives any brokerage, origination, or servicing fees;

(3) During the public official's term of office or within one year thereafter, occupy any position of profit in the prosecution of a public contract authorized by the public official or by a legislative body, commission, or board of which the public official was a member at the time of authorization, unless the contract was let by competitive bidding to the lowest and best bidder.

Granted, there are some legal twists (as always) to the code, including:

(C) This section does not apply to a public contract in which a public official, member of a public official's family, or one of a public official's business associates has an interest, when all of the following apply:

(1) The subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;

(2) The supplies or services are unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, or are being furnished to the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality as part of a continuing course of dealing established prior to the public official's becoming associated with the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;

(3) The treatment accorded the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality is either preferential to or the same as that accorded other customers or clients in similar transactions;

(4) The entire transaction is conducted at arm's length, with full knowledge by the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, of the interest of the public official, member of the public official's family, or business associate, and the public official takes no part in the deliberations or decision of the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality with respect to the public contract.

As a dear and departed legal friend and adviser, Thomas M. Tepe, liked to ask me about such arrangements: Does it pass the smell test?

Local taxpayers with good memories may recall similar arrangements with public officials and public contracts. We already plowed that ground, so I won't go over it again.

According to Hillsboro Finance Committee member Mary Stanforth, the committee approved a proposal to the full council at the March 2 meeting to buy the property for approximately $113,000.

"It is not being sent as an emergency," she said. "It will have three readings, so the public can come and voice their opinion."

That's good. This will also allow time for the city's legal representative to clarify the legal (and possibly ethical) contractual arrangement between the mayor and council.

On the surface – at least to this taxpayer – it fails to pass the smell test. Time will tell.

* * *

Congratulations to Hall-of-Famer Chris Veidt

• On a much more interesting note (at least to me), I was pleased to receive notice from Bright Local Schools Superintendent Jason Iles today that Whiteoak High School will honor longtime Head Baseball Coach Chris Veidt with a field dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 10 prior to the Wildcats’ home game against the Fairfield Lions. (See https://highlandcountypress.com/sports/whiteoak-high-school-dedicate-fi…)

Coach Veidt's family, BLSD faculty, current and former players, students and community members are invited to attend. I hope to be there with HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha.

I met Coach Veidt in 1992 when I was a sports editor at a newspaper that no longer exists. I was at Whiteoak High School to write a preseason story on the 1992 Wildcats. I watched the team's practice, and immediately liked what I observed. This was a no-nonsense, fundamentals-driven baseball man, I thought.

"Trust the process," Coach Veidt insisted. He still says it to players 35 years later.

"Trust the process" means having faith in your daily preparation and training even when results aren't immediately visible.

Whiteoak High School will never be able to keep him, I also thought. He'll be gone in two years. I was wrong. Very wrong.

Coach Veidt is beginning his 35th consecutive season leading the Wildcats. He has an impressive 492-364 career record, placing him on the verge of an extraordinary 500-win milestone. I hope he reaches 500, and I hope I am there to see it.

Coach Veidt was inducted into the 2024 class of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. HCP sports editor Stephen Forsha endorsed Coach Veidt's well-deserved induction.

"Since taking over the program in 1992, Coach Veidt has built one of the most respected baseball programs in the region," Superintendent Iles said. "Under his leadership, Whiteoak teams have been state-ranked 12 times, highlighted by a State Poll Championship in 2018 and a No. 2 final ranking in 2023. His teams have captured 12 Southern Hills Athletic Conference championships – including perfect conference seasons in 2013 and 2018 – along with 17 sectional titles, four district championships and one regional title. The 2018 Wildcats advanced to the OHSAA Division IV State Final Four after finishing the regular season as Ohio’s top-ranked team."

Amazing.

Coach Veidt is respected among players, opposing coaches and umpires (perhaps grudgingly!).

"Beyond wins and championships, Coach Veidt’s legacy is defined by decades of mentorship, leadership and unwavering commitment to student-athletes and the Whiteoak community," Superintendent Iles said. "Bright Local Schools is deeply grateful and truly blessed to have benefited from Coach Veidt’s leadership, steady presence and positive influence for more than three decades. His impact reaches far beyond the field — shaping young men of character, reinforcing teamwork and perseverance and strengthening the pride of our entire district."

Congratulations, Coach Veidt. As a former Wildcat, I am especially happy for you and the program and facilities you've put together in the heart of Mowrystown, Ohio. Absolutely amazing. 

Oh, to make the first assist on that new infield! Go 'Cats!

Rory Ryan is publisher and owner of The Highland County Press.