The Clark County Commissioners continued to review the 2016 budget appropriations at their December 16 meeting. Several agencies who had requested funding for their projects from the county commissioners presented arguments in support of their programs.
First, Tony Bailey from the Clark County Jail Chaplaincy presented a brief program to the commissioners on the Key Vision TV programming that the Chaplaincy is now offering to the inmates incarcerated in the county jail. Starting on February 1, the Chaplaincy began Key Vision TV programming. In this program offered Monday through Friday, the chaplaincy broadcasts shows for four hours a day that provide drug/alcohol prevention and recovery, mental health/cognitive behavior counseling, employment counseling, local resources availability and inspirational/educational programming. According to Bailey, it cost the county $24,000 to house an inmate for one year. He said, “We believe we could see a 10 to 20 percent reduction in recidivism with this program, which would save the county $240,000 to $480,000 per year.” He requested that the commissioners fund the Key Vision TV program at the rate of $39,000 per year. Although the commissioners agreed that the program is a valuable resource for the inmates, the Chaplaincy is an independent organization, and should not be funded by the county.
In other budget discussions, the commissioners debated whether to hire four dispatchers at the cost of $207,098 every year or to approve the purchase of new 911 system at a cost of $750,000. Several unknowns contributed to the decision by the commissioners to postpone the purchase of the equipment and to support the hiring of the dispatchers. First, the county is currently in negotiations with the City of Springfield on combining the 911 services. According to Nathan Kennedy, County Administrator, “Hiring the dispatchers simplifies the negotiations with the city. If we purchase the equipment, it is much harder to put a value on the equipment after it is purchased.”
In addition, Kennedy expects the state to require that all government agencies update to the Next Generation 911 system within a year or two. Currently, it is unclear when the upgrade will be mandated and whether the state will provide funding for the equipment. He said, “The dispatchers are a stopgap, but holding off on purchasing equipment simplifies negotiations with the city.”
Commissioner Richard Lohnes agreed, “As a general rule of thumb, it is better to buy equipment than hire people, but there are too many unknowns to determine the best course of action right now.”
The commissioners approved the addition of $207,098 to the Sheriff’s Budget to cover the cost of hiring four additional dispatchers.
Last, the fair board provided the commissioners with proposed capital requests for the fairgrounds. The request included repairs to the roofs, gutters, and concrete work on the buildings, RV Signage and Upgrade, Wi-Fi update, door repairs, replacement of water heaters, paving and other projects, According to Lohnes the fairgrounds generate between 70 and 72 percent of the tourism dollars that are spent in the county. He said, “It is important to modernize and maintain the fairgrounds. In addition, the Love’s Truck Stop at the fairgrounds exit will be breaking ground in the spring and with the county purchase of the Armory, there is the potential is to develop a motel/restaurant at the exit.”
Kennedy pointed out that it is the fair board’s mission to operate the fair and manage the grounds, which includes maintenance of the facility. However, he said, “Since the county owns the arts and crafts, mercantile, and youth buildings, I recommend that the commissioners include repairs to these buildings in the budget to protect the county’s investment. I do not support funding expenditures such as Wi-Fi and hand dryers.”
Lohnes told the fair board representatives, “I insist that the Fair Board change the way they allocate funds for grounds maintenance. I was told that the board waits until the end of the year to see what they have left and use that for repairs. The board needs a line item for capital repairs in the budget.”
The commissioners allocated $230,000 in their budget to pay for repairs to the county owned buildings at the fairgrounds.
In regular business, the commissioners amended three contracts for the Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS). First, the contract with CitiLookout for $54,400 was changed. The outcomes were revised to make the products produced more objective. CitiLookout provides group counseling to fathers to improve their parenting skills and to increase their ability to behave responsibly with regard to their children. The contract amount did not change. The contract is effective July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017.
Second, the contract with CND Security, Inc by was increased by $596.55 to allow for the purchase and installation of additional security system equipment. The amendment was effective on December 16, 2015 .The new contract total equals $13,274.90 and began on October 14, 2015 and is effective until the work is completed.
Third, they amended the contract with OIC of Clark County to align the Budget Narrative of the contract with the value of the contract. The contract is effective November 4, 2015 through June 30, 2016.
The commissioners also authorized a contract with NECCO, Inc for DJFS for $10,000 to provide foster care and residential placement for children effect December 16, 2015 through June 30, 2017.
For the Utilities Department, the commissioners amended the contract with Miller Pipeline, LLC by $7,285 to add 310 feet of pipe to repair the sewer. The new contract totals $292,599.65
For the Wellness Coordinator, the commissioners authorized a grant submission to County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio (CEBCO) Wellness Grant for $22,408 to develop and implement programs and activities targeted towards improving the health and wellness of Clark County’s employees and to cover salary and wages of the county wellness coordinator effective January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016. Commissioner John Detrick said, “It is a wonderful facility.”
For the Buildings and Grounds Department, the commissioners changed the bid opening for the Clark County Juvenile Court Courtyard Improvement Project from January 7, 2016 to January 8, 2016.  
For the Engineer Department, the commissioners requested the clerk post a bid notice for the disposal of scrap metal for 2016. The bids must be submitted to the Engineer’s Department no later than 2:00 p.m. on January 8, 2016.
Last, for the Sheriff’s Office, the commissioners authorized the purchase of a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria from Jay North Auto Sales for $8,915 to replace a 2008 Ford K-9 vehicle.
The next meeting of the Clark County Commissioners is scheduled for December 30, 2015 at 10::00 a.m. at 50 E. Columbia Street in the Commissioners Conference Room.