1.    The Board met in regular session today.  The Board met with County Engineer Charles Ortman to discuss various projects that his department will be focusing on in 2012.  Mr. Ortman discussed several bridge projects that will be in various forms of development or installation, including design work for a bridge replacement on Three Locks Road, design work for a bridge replacement on Massieville Road and installation of a bridge on Hess Lane.  Mr. Ortman also talked about the need to erect a storage facility for road salt.  The Board agreed that Mr. Ortman should move forward with the design of the facility and options for the location of the facility.

2.    The Board met with Tom Johnson, Sales Manager for Air Evac LifeTeam, for an introductory visit.  Mr. Johnson informed the Board that Air Evac LifeTeam had purchased the company formerly known as Life Air in the summer of 2011 and took over their helicopter transport assets.  The new company is encouraging citizens of the community to buy memberships that would offset any costs they would incur if they were to ever use the service.

3.    The Board approved two separate contracts for lightning surge suppression at the Courthouse and the Law Enforcement Complex.  Due to substantial financial losses over the past two years, the county's property and casualty insurance company is having the county put protections in place to help mitigate future losses.  The two projects will allow the county to be held harmless if future strikes should happen at either of these locations.

1.    The Board met in regular session today.  The Board met with Dennis Carr, of Flour B&W Portsmouth, LLC and Joel Bradburne, of US DOE, to get an update on the demolition and decommissioning project taking place in Piketon.  Mr. Carr and Mr. Bradburne informed the Board that meetings are being held throughout the region to determine the best method of disposal for the buildings that will be demolished.  DOE and Ohio EPA have the ultimate say on whether debris is kept on-site or shipped off-site for disposal, but the general public in the four county region surrounding the plant is being given the opportunity to weigh in on the decision.  Mr. Carr also noted that Flour B&W is continuing work on a comprehensive economic development strategy for the region.

2.    The Board met with Bob Gallagher, director of Ross County Job and Family Services, to review contract amendments and discuss the status of the proposed three-county merger with Vinton and Hocking Counties.  Mr. Gallagher informed the Board that the directors of the three county agencies were meeting regularly and moving forward with the planning of the merger.  A meeting of the three county Boards of Commissioners is being planned for early February to discuss management issues and agency structure.

3.    The Board hosted a meeting of the Ross County Investment Advisory Committee.  This committee consists of the Ross County Treasurer, the President of the Board of Commissioners and one other County Commissioner.  The purpose of the meeting was to do an annual review of investments and investment policies for Job and Family Services and the Ross County Clerk of Courts.  The policies and investments were found to be in compliance for both of these agencies.  It was also noted during the meeting that investment income was up approximately $10,000 over the estimate for 2011.

1.    The Board met in regular session today as all county offices were closed Monday January 16 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  The Board met with Maralee Scheeler and Nora Madru, of the Ross County Board of Elections, to discuss a proposed leasing contract for ballot scanning equipment and the need for additional funds for voting machine upgrades.  The lease with Advanced Ballot Solutions had previously been approved by the Board in 2011 but has now been renegotiated at a lower rate.  The lease will be presented to the local Board of Elections members for approval before the Board of Commissioners can act on it.  Mrs. Madru and Mrs. Scheeler also informed the Board that, per a directive from the Secretary of State's Office, an additional $18,762.50 would be needed to replace batteries in all the voting machines that the county has in its inventory.

 

2.    The Board met with staff from the Ross County Planning Department to discuss applying for the FY2012 CHIP grant.  The Board asked the staff to send out a Request for Application from two separate non-profit agencies that specialize in grant administration and also to ask for the same information from the Pike County Development Office.  The Board will review the information at their February 7 meeting and make a decision on which entity to employ for the grant application and subsequent implementation process.