Holmes commissioners prepare for 2021
Holmes County Municipal Court Judge Andrew Hyde, left, swears in newly elected commissioners Joe Miller and Ray Eyler on Monday, Dec. 14.
A new year brings new appointments and agreements for the Holmes County commissioners, and on Monday, Dec. 14, the commissioners passed several resolutions regarding county activities.
The first was #12-14-20-2, a cooperative agreement resolution that allows the commissioners to enter into cooperative agreements with the county engineer on roadway issues that pertain to the health, safety and welfare of the general public.
Resolution #12-14-20-7 was a force account resolution with the Holmes County Engineer, authorizing the county engineer to employ labor, purchase materials and proceed by force account in Holmes County in matters pertaining to maintenance, repair, construction and reconstruction of Holmes County roads, bridges and culverts.
Resolution #12-14-20-8 authorized the commissioners’ intent to conduct an internet auction for the sale of unneeded, obsolete or unfit county personal property in 2021. That list may include motor vehicles acquired for county use, road machinery, equipment, tools or supplies, with all being sold marked “as is.”
Resolution #12-14-20-18 accepted the agreement for provision of guaranteed bed detention services between the Erie County Common Pleas Court Juvenile Division (detention center) and the Holmes County Common Pleas Court Probate and Juvenile Division (referring court) to serve as back-up to Richland County Juvenile Detention Center.
The resolution allows Erie County facilities to assume any possible overflow from Holmes County that the facility in Erie County can’t handle and to provide services and boarding for juveniles should Richland County be full. The resolution is designed to accommodate both male and female juveniles between the age of 11 and 17.
Should that happen, the Erie County detention center would provide appropriate clothing; all necessary hygiene products including and not limited to deodorant, soap, toothpaste and toothbrush; food in accordance with current applicable detention center standards in accordance with the Ohio Department of Youth Services; education facilities and state-certified teachers that meet the age and grade-appropriate educational standards in Ohio; arts and living skills educational components; 24-hour supervision; age-appropriate recreational facilities; and mental-health services including crisis intervention, nursing assessments, medication administration and in-house medical examinations.
As the referring court, Holmes County would be guaranteed to have one bed available for placement at a rate of $70 per day. If additional bed space were needed and available in Erie County, it could agree to additional bed space.
Should Erie County’s facility be full, Holmes County would receive 24-hour notice, with the referring court being billed monthly.
As is the case every year for the Holmes County commissioners, the close of a year brings with it a barrage of appointments to fill vital rolls within the county’s ranks. The commissioners passed a number of resolutions and appointed department heads to various roles.
Misty Burns, Holmes County director of human resources, was appointed to several positions. Included in the list are civil service representative, designed to monitor and report civil service issues, with the alternate being Eric McDowell of Hummel Insurance; the title of county equal employment officer; the role of county fair labor representative; and the role of county loss control coordinator.
Arnold Oliver, Holmes County planning director, was appointed to serve as the Holmes County labor compliance officer. County commissioner Rob Ault was appointed to serve as Issue I labor compliance officer with Holmes County engineer Chris Young serving as the alternate. Oliver also was appointed to county minority and women business enterprise program representative.
Susan Schie, Holmes County clerk, was appointed to the role of county prevailing wages officer to monitor all prevailing wages questions and issues. Commissioners Ault and Ray Eyler were designated as the official representative and alternate, respectively, for the purpose of voting at the annual meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Ohio in 2021.
County HIPPA privacy officer, attorney Grant Mason of Miller, Mast & Mason Ltd., was appointed membership into the Holmes County Airport Authority.
Finally, the commissioners celebrated a proclamation declaring December as General Aviation Appreciation Month for 2020.
The resolution commented on how aviation continues to be a strategic resource for Holmes County, noting airports have remained open to serve as a critical need during the COVID-19 era.