The Board of Adams County Commissioners met in regular session on May 6, 2019 at the Government Center with the following members present: Ty Pell, Diane Ward and Barbara Moore. The meeting was called to order by President Pell and opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Pastor Richard Williams.
It was moved by Diane Ward and seconded by Ty Pell to approve the minutes. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Barbara Moore and seconded by Diane Ward to approve the bills. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Barbara Moore and seconded by Ty Pell to approve transfers of funds. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Barbara Moore and seconded by Ty Pell to approve the following travel request: David Gifford- SW District Auditors Association Meeting- Clifton, Ohio- $83- May 17, 2019. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Barbara Moore and seconded by Diane Ward to adopt a travel policy for employees and department directors for reimbursement of allowable expenditures that are incurred while traveling out-of-county on official business. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Ty Pell and seconded by Diane Ward to approve a Letter of Support for an Oral Health Infrastructure Grant as requested by Keith Pitts, Executive Director, Pike County Community Action Committee. Vote: all aye.
A petition had been received calling for the establishment of Brandi Lane as a public road in the Oliver Township Road System. The Commissioners referred the issue to the Oliver Township Trustees for their opinion regarding the proposed road establishment. It was determined that the trustees did not recommend moving forward with the petition. It was moved by Ty Pell and seconded by Diane Ward to not proceed with the proposed road establishment. Vote: all aye.
Nan Cahall, SW District Director for United States Senator Rob Portman and Teresa Lewis, Regional Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup, met with the Board to give updates on their respective offices. ECD Director Holly Johnson was also present. The following issues were discussed:
• Portman’s focus on the economy – Tax reform and ensuring the economy moves forward
• Trade relations with Japan
• Rural Broadband – Legislation in place for approval which will remove the barrier for non-profit broadband companies to be eligible to receive USDA funding
• Jobs Act – funding workforce and education. Changing PELL grant eligibility to include dollars for workforce trade certification
Also, Nan Cahall, Teresa Lewis, and Holly Johnson discussed the following with the board:
• Utility Pipeline funding for Adams County – $15.5 million estimate
• Adams County nature trails – Cedar Falls Trail, The Bluffs, etc.
• Increase in the Adams County Bed Tax since 2010 of 71%
• Trade tariffs/Adams County farmers
• Black buzzard/migratory birds classification/initiative for removal from program for control
• Adams County Workforce Training Center
• A.C. Business Incubator grant funding/complimenting the new Adams County Workforce Training Center
• Tri-State River Study
• Cincinnati MBAC Business Advisory Board – Agriculture from “Farm to Table”
It was moved by Diane Ward and seconded by Barbara Moore to proclaim May 6-10, 2019 as In-Demand Jobs Ohio Week in Adams County. Vote: all aye. Those present for the proclamation were: Director Debora Plymail, Ohio Means Jobs of Adams and Brown Counties; ECD Director Holly Johnson; Teresa Lewis, Regional Director for Congressman Brad Wenstrup; Nan Cahall, District Director for US Senator Rob Portman; Gay Lynn Shipley, Member, Adams County Ohio Valley School Board, Robbie Shipley, Advisory Adult Committee Education; Ohio Valley Career & Training Center Director Jennifer Grimes, and OVCTC students Darrington White, Aaron Whaley, Kris Mack, Andrew Grooms, Stephen Seas, Zerin Davis, Cheyann Deskins-Meyer, Thomas Cramer and Alexis King.
Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dana Whalen discussed the following legal issues with the board: Winchester Industrial Park.
At 1 p.m. the second of two public hearings was held for the 2019-2020 CDBG Formula Grant program. Those present for the hearing were: Wayne Township Trustees Jimmy Tadlock, Tom Downing and Steve Leonard; Manchester Village Council members Rae Ann Wilson and Michael Phipps; Tiffin Township Trustee Richard Dryden; Quentin Baker, Oliver Township Trustee; Alvin Norris, ABCAP Executive Director; Mark Cardosi, Southern Ohio Legal Services; ECD Director Holly Johnson and Administrative Assistant Amanda Fraley. The purpose of the hearing was to discuss specific projects that were presented for consideration.
It was moved by Diane Ward and seconded by Ty Pell to recommend projects for submission for the ODSA Community Development Program and to authorize the Adams County Economic and Community Development Department to proceed with the preparation of the application for the 2019-2020 CDBG Formula Grant Funds. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Ty Pell and seconded by Diane Ward to authorize American Fidelity to provide services to the county to assist in employee benefit enrollment and to assure compliance with human resource regulations pertaining to employee benefits. Vote: all aye.
It was moved by Diane Ward and seconded by Ty Pell to adjourn, and the meeting was adjourned.
Work sessions were held at 8:30 a.m. on May 8 and 9, 2019 for the purpose of interviewing applicants for the Clerk’s position.