Support Our Troops of Highland County (SOTOHC) is looking to make things a little easier for veterans by way of parking.
Stephanie Roland of SOTOHC, along with other members of SOTOHC and VFW members, met with the Highland County Board of Commissioners about signs for handicapped veterans and placement of the signs.
Last spring SOTOHC brought a Vietnam travelling tribute to Liberty Park. Funds left over from the community’s generous donations, Roland said, have allowed for the purchase of 10 special handicap veteran parking signs. She said the signs are legal by state standards.
Roland said the group is looking to place two near the memorial at the corner of the courthouse, but that will be up to the city of Hillsboro. Commission President Shane Wilkin said commissioners would submit a letter of support for the sign placement for Roland to take to a Hillsboro City Council meeting. All three commissioners passed a motion approving the letter.
Roland said the group is hoping to place signs at the Hi-Tech Center, where the Veterans Service Commission has its office, and also at other places around the county.
On a related matter, Roland said SOTOHC is having its monthly meeting on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the Hi-Tech Center, conference rooms 30 A and B.
The group anticipates implementing a new adopt a troop program. Roland said SOTOHC is looking for organizations, businesses, and individuals to participate and anyone interested should attend Friday’s meeting for more information.
In other business, Sen. Bob Peterson (R-Sabina) met with the commissioners on Wednesday in regard to the state’s biennial Capital Budget.
The Capital Budget funds state-related projects, the senator said, and he outlined the process of the bill through the state’s house and senate. He also spoke about previous projects in the county funded through the bill, which included work on the Hi-Tech Center in Hillsboro.
With the completion of the Carl Smith/Hobart Drive project, Wilkin said that he and Southern State Community College President Dr. Kevin Boys had discussed signage that would provide information as to what businesses were in that area. The sign, Wilkin said, would be “rather substantial” and something that could be added to as businesses came in.
Wilkin also mentioned a possible project of designing space for Job and Family Services.
Another suggestion came from Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley on a record storage space at the North High Business Center.
Peterson said similar projects have been funded in the past.
Project funding through the Capital Budget would be available beginning July 1, 2016.
Peterson encouraged the submission of project ideas, for which he and Ohio Speaker of the House Cliff Rosenberger (R-Clarksville) would “advocate on (the county’s) behalf” to other legislators.
Zach McCune, executive assistant to Rosenberger, also attended Wednesday’s meeting with commissioners.
On another matter, Fawley reported the county’s share of the casino receipts from the last quarter of 2015 as $127,345. That money goes to the county’s general fund.
Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.
