$200,000 transferred to Children Services

0

Highland County Commissioners passed a resolution on Wednesday transferring funds to Children Services, a result of ongoing issues concerning the number of kids currently in foster care.

Commissioners have discussed in prior meetings the increasing number of children in foster care and its impact on the county budget, as previously reported by The Times-Gazette.

During last week’s meeting, commissioner Shane Wilkin said that while the number of kids in care has “dropped some,” the county could “still count on some general fund money” going toward those services.

Wednesday’s resolution transferred $200,000 from the general fund to Children Services. Wilkin said that amount was “in part, to address our kids in care issue.”

In other business, commissioners said that the probation department and Highland County Common Pleas Court have both received grants from the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

Those grants are for $245,315 and $435,000, respectively. Commissioners said those funds are for diversion projects.

Also on Wednesday, commissioners said they have received information from the Secretary of State detailing Issues 1, 2, and 3. That information will be posted on the commissioners’ website at www.co.highland.oh.us/commissioners.

In regard to Issue 3, which proposes a constitutional amendment that would make marijuana legal in Ohio, commissioner Tom Horst said, “I still think … it’s not a good thing for the state of Ohio to legalize marijuana in any way, shape, or form right now in the constitution.”

He added that he did not have a problem with legislation that would address medical marijuana.

In other matters, Wilkin left the meeting early to attend an Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission (OVRDC) meeting with Deputy Clerk Nicole Oberrecht. He said the meeting concerned a proposal with the tobacco board and the Corvac Composites project in Greenfield.

Results of that meeting will be discussed by commissioners in subsequent sessions.

Highland County Auditor Bill Fawley was also present during Wednesday’s meeting. He provided the figures for casino receipts for the final quarter of the year, which was $126,135.

Commissioner Jeff Duncan said that interviews are upcoming for the assistant director position at Job and Family Services (JFS).

Duncan also said that construction on Harry Sauner Road “keeps moving along.” Horst added that improvements to the Hi-Tech Center are a little behind but are still “moving along.”

Reach Sarah Allen at 937-393-3456, ext. 1680, or on Twitter @SarahAllenHTG.

Above, Highland County Commissioners Jeff Duncan, Shane Wilkin, and Tom Horst are pictured during Wednesday’s meeting.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/10/web1_CommishOct14.jpgAbove, Highland County Commissioners Jeff Duncan, Shane Wilkin, and Tom Horst are pictured during Wednesday’s meeting. Sarah Allen|The Times-Gazette
Probation department, common pleas court receive grants

By Sarah Allen

[email protected]

No posts to display