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SATURDAY, JANUARY 5, 2019
harrisonnewsherald.com
Sterling’s retirement leaves void to fill By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
CADIZ – The Harrison County Commissioners resumed their weekly meetings Wednesday with the first one of the new year and found themselves dealing with no county engineer and a decision to make. Doug Crabtree of the county engineer’s office read Rob Sterling’s official letter of notice to the board of his retirement, effective Jan. 31 of 2018. The letter continues by requesting the board to appoint an “active officer” until a permanent hire has been completed. That hire would come from the Republican party, for which Sterling was a member. “We have no way at this point…once
the budget is passed to pay bills, to do payroll, to continue on in our office,” Crabtree explained. He continued by stating that since Sterling has retired he obviously no longer has the authority to appoint a stand-in replacement and was now asking if the commissioners would approve of assistant, Doug Bachman to take on that role. Crabtree stated that the Ohio Revised Code (305.02 Section F) gives the commissioners the authority to appoint an acting officer in order for business to continue. “So that we have some guidance, so we can…continue to do business,” Crabtree explained. “Doug is very capable, has the qualifications, has his P.E. [and] P.S. (Professional Engineer and Professional Surveyor) and would
ask that you would appoint Doug Bachman as our acting officer until such time as the Republican Central Committee can do their due diligence and appoint a permanent replacement for Mr. Sterling, who has retired.” Commissioner Don Bethel stated that the decision to appoint Bachman temporarily was not a tough one as his qualifications were up to par, but other questions regarding protocol were being asked. Prosecutor Owen Beetham stated that, “within the first five days the commissioners may elect an interim appointee to fill a vacancy.” He said according to the Ohio Revised Code (ORC), the county’s central committee would step in “Not less than five nor more than forty-five days after a vacancy occurs,
Jewett approves new water meters By JD LONG
jim@harrisonnewsherald.com
JEWETT – The village of Jewett found themselves in somewhat of a lengthy discussion concerning some of their water meters that are not working properly. Clerk of Water and Public Affairs Rhonda Harris said they found nine meters that were “going backwards.” Water Superintendent Charley Harris explained that he’s contacted three companies and they couldn’t come up with an explanation as to why. He was told that the only way this would happen was if water was being sucked back out. Rhonda Harris said it was a choice between replacing those meters with new ones or to continue estimating those water bills, which she said she’s been doing for the past few months. Council Member Dennis Hirschbach suggested getting ahead of the problem by installing curb meters instead “because that’s what we’re going to do when they run the new lines.” Charley Harris said the choice was between installing new meters now for $200 versus installing a new meter pit with everything involved, which would come to around $2,000, which some council members debated that figure. Hirschbach said the money could be earned back in six months “between the estimates and what they’re actually using.” “So, it would be worth it to go ahead and change the meters out,” Hirschbach said. Charley Harris said many of the ones running backwards are of the old kind, which includes the ones he’s already changed out. When asked if any of those meters had been tampered with he said he hadn’t noticed any he’s seen. Council eventually approved the purchase of 12 new meters, as Charley Harris said they come six to a case and they needed extras to have on hand. Discussion then turned to what to do about tap-in fees. Rhonda Harris began comparing Jewett’s tap-in fees with other villages in the county and was told Jewett’s is much lower. She said, according to their ordinance, that their tap-in fee is $600 for water and $500 for wastewater. “Cadiz charges $1,700 for the same size, Bowerston charges $1,500 for the same size and that’s just for water,” Rhonda Harris told council. She said for wastewater, Cadiz was charging $1,800,
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“…The commissioners have the ability to fill the vacancy in the interim and that individual then will be the interim head of the office and/or department…and will hold that position until the political party of the last office holder selects through their process, a successor, or appoints a successor until somebody subsequently is elected,” Beetham explained. When Commissioner Paul Coffland asked if no qualified individual has been appointed in 45 days, is that uncharted territory? Beetham basically agreed stating that from his research, he’s not come across a situation as that. After the commissioners were satisfied with the answers they received, Bethel seconded Commissioner Dale Norris’s motion to approve Bachman as the engineer’s acting officer.
Cadiz Legion fundraiser for Students Weekend Food Program
Bowerston at $1,500 compared to Jewett’s $500 charge. Rhonda Harris said this was triggered by the village of Hopedale calling to inquire about Jewett’s fees then supplied her with the other village’s charges. She asked council if this is where they want to keep their rates. Rhonda Harris said that there is a different tap-in fee for businesses of larger size, when asked. “Amounts I quoted you for was the ¾ inch meter and it’s a single-family residence,” Rhonda Harris explained. Charley Harris said when the new system is installed that their current fee isn’t going to cover costs, to which Mayor Dwight Busby agreed. Rhonda Harris then asked what to do about charging churches once she applies the new rates for debt service. “Because in the new ordinance it talks about each ‘dwelling site’ will be charged an additional $6 debt service,” she said. “So, I didn’t know if you considered a church a dwelling unit.” She described the ordinance as stating that a dwelling unit “is defined as one or more rooms with a private bath and kitchen facilities…” She again asked if they want to charge churches the $6 fee, to which everyone fell silent. Village Solicitor Jenna Hokes then asked why churches were only paying $1 now when “legally they would be required to pay the increase unless council decides to exempt them from the increase. Why are they only paying a dollar now?” When Busby asked what everyone wanted to do, Hirschbach felt they should pay the increase. “They really should,” he repeated and added that the EPA suggested they pay the regular rates for the water service. “Legally, you’re correct,” Hokes told him, “unless council exempts them and then you get into issues where you start exempting people. She said some issues arise from possibly “missing someone” or if council changes their mind when it comes to exemptions. Hokes then repeated information from the new ordinance, which states that everyone is to pay the rate increase “unless council decides to exempt them from that new change.” It was decided they were going to follow the wording of the new ordinance and charge everyone the rate increase. What to do about tap-in fees was not decided on.
Index
the county central committee shall meet for the purpose of making an appointment under this section (C)” according to the ORC. “Which in this case given the time period would be the next election in two years,” Beetham added. Crabtree said that since Sterling was a member of the Republican Party, that party has the authority to take that action. “Because of the Sunshine Laws they have to wait that minimum five days to set that meeting, and depending on when that meeting occurs, is why we’re asking for an acting office to be appointed who is very qualified…” Crabtree said. When Bethel asked if this was a political appointment “at this point in time,” which is in the middle of the term. Beetham said it was both.
On Oct.10 the Cadiz American Legion Post 34 Legionnaires, Auxiliary, Sons, and the Legion Riders together sponsored a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for the Harrison Hills City School District’s Blessings in a Backpack to send home food with 240+ students when there is a chance that there is a shortage of food in the home on weekends. The event brought in donations from local community members, churches, businesses and organizations. Some donations received also came from various parts of the country. The event included dinner, a Chinese auction, baked goods and other creative ways of generating donations. Pictured with Ed Heavener and Ed Long from the post are Vicki Sefsick, Marcy Carter, Kim Coleman and Jenny Gibson.
Obituaries, Pg. 5 Pamela Faye Fulton Cadiz, Ohio
Question of the week
Last week’s question
Next week’s question
Are you satisfied with the quality of your Internet speed?
Are you satisfied with the quality of your water?
NO 64% (9 VOTES) YES 36% (5 VOTES)
YES • NO
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