Moving County Offices To Heartland Home

[estherlike]

Please cast your vote for the decision to move county offices to the former Heartland Home.

[Whirled Peas]

Tomorrow's paper ought to be a doozy! Wonder how they'll spin this into their latest stroke of brilliance for our benefit.

[Whirled Peas]

Gotta love the T-G! Their TOP front page headline in today's print edition was about the moving of county offices to the Heartland Home building, but on their website, it's buried in the "Local News" section.

Wassa matter? Don't want people finding it too easily, and leaving those poisonous comments?

The same is true of the decision to reduce the Board of Elections to 4 days a week, although in the print edition, this was a front page below-the-fold headline. Still front page news, until you go to their website, and it's the last entry in today's "Local News" section update.

In case you missed it, and it would seem the T-G wants you to, the article about moving the offices is here:

www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4618703

And the article about the BOE is here:

www.times-gazette.com/news/article/4618693

Stay classy, T-G. ;D

[estherlike]

Amazing, according to the article on Board of Elections, the BOE is opting to NOT send anyone to conventions this summer and yet our Commissioners are still going to the summer convention for CCAO (County Commissioners Association of Ohio). Ever notice that the other departments receive THEIR cuts but you never hear anything about how much the Commissioners budgets are cut?

[guest]

We need to know how much this will cost the taxpayers of
Ashland County. I have been in Heartland Home and it is not
set up for offices. Much will have to be done to make it into
office space.
Taking wallpaper down (and I never saw any) and putting
on a little paint and washing windows will not do it!!!

[estherlike]

How right you are!!! This would be a good question and comment for Thursday.

[polygons]

We all know this stuff has gone on for 15 years. I admire all you people for standing up for what is right. I do believe the time is NOW to take back what is "ours".

[estherlike]

;DWe appreciate that and knowing that you see we are trying. This is going to take all of us, but we have no problem getting out there and digging up the documents as long as they are public record.

[henry]

it sure is going to be interesting on a watch and wait shift to see if they can still move some offices into HH by the 1st of Nov??? Let's see our local goverment take the reins now and put a stop to all of this lying about why the cost is going up for the move.and some of the trickery going on as to rezoning.
More of you residents should attend a commissioners meeting and listen to the blame put on former directorsof HH for the problems that now are showing up.
This is bull crap,excuse me, the commissioners need to come up quickly with documents on job descriptions of the maintainence personnel, and if there were ,documentation as to problems , how they were handled and repaired if needed. And phone call records to the directors to the commisioners and back to the directors about existing repairs that needed attention.l
Several phone calls were never returned to the HH directors when presented.
Right now, the heat is on and somebody better come up with some straight answers or something else might just hit the fan! The blame cannot be put on the directors clear back to 2003, There were several...and where were the commissioners all this time ....you certainly had to return phone calls, we need to see some proof of this...it is unbelieveable that you have never had any communication with the HH about problems over a period of six years. It sure did not take you that long to secure the property and throw out the residents. Let's have some truth for a change!!!

[guest]

AMEN!!! I don't know if they would know the truth if
it bit them ;D

[gunny]

Ok! Henry,
I read your post and will listen to the meeting - but no need - my mind went into a "deep think." Here is my plan:
1) Are any of the former Administrators still in the area? I know of two so let's make sure we have all the Admins from 2003 or even 2000. Let's bring them together at a Commissioners meeting and "answer" the charges that have been leveled at them.
2) Come up with the documents that you asked for in your post.
3) Take out a rather large ad in the TG and place in it what the former admins said and what the Docs say.
4) There is a World War II saying called a "Bliffit" and this means 10 pounds of "B. S." in a 5 pound bag, packed down and over flowing. This is a big Bliffit.

[henry]

Good ideas gunny! Let's see if any of the former directors respond. I am still anxious to see this documentation on all areas, if it still exists. Remember, a few years ago some documentation was destroyed when the childrens home was changed over to another area. It could happen again. What a shame, eh? And listen I won't even give you any points for your last statement, it is great!

[gunny]

Gee Henry! I was waiting for those points - LOL!!!! I don't even think a 55 gallon can could hold all their Bliffits! This could make the Commissioners a bit uncomfortable thinking about the possibilities. HMMMM, the former directors coming forward and in a public meeting telling their side of the story - instant messy pants for some.

[henry]

Hurrah! Finally some former director of former HH has come to voice his opinion. When I read the paper this am, I was amazed of the information regarding work done at the home, that was never mentioned at a former CC meeting. Kudoos! to Mr. McMullen. See, ormand there are others who are really upset about the accusations made by CC regarding the former directors of HH.. I really think we all need to be present Thurs a.m. at the CC meeting. I just wonder if any documentation has been found regarding work, phone calls, Sure hope so.

[henry]

Well, no documentation was found according to the commissioners. one of whom did not want to be included in the transformaton from nursing home to whatever it will be, that she was not on the commissioners seat when the problems arose but came in at the end of the problem....BUT she did not dissent her vote and voted for it. Go figure!

[howard]

I am sure a lot of things have been "lost" from there, it now looks like honesty was the biggest loss!

[estherlike]

With respect to Kim Edwards denying her statements, please refer to the recording at www.caofac.org which is a true recording of the meeting on 10-22-09 when these statements were made. There is no denying they were in fact made and her denying it should only prove to the residents of Ashland County the lack of integrity in the Commissioners Office. Additionally, the reference to the painting of the Hayesville Water Tower, remember that it was Kim Edwards who held the office of Mayor of Hayesville when the painting was done and now the taxpayers get to pay for her mistake. Again, the documents are on our website, www.caofac.org for anyone who would like to view them.

[howard]

I read the article in todays T-G about the cleaning contract and was kind of confused. the way it is written looks as if saving money and a fair bidding process is also a moot point. the only "moot" point should be a contract being awarded, to anyone. in these times of cut-backs and consolidation the biggest priorety should be to save $'s, these are tax $'s.

[estherlike]

:oHoward, you are absolutely correct. Please contact the following to voice your concern over this: Tammy Marcum at 614-466-4763 or you can contact your State Representative David Hall, Senator Bill Harris or any of the other State Representatives for your area. We MUST let the State know we as a community feel about this and keep these jobs and $$$ here in Ashland County.

[howard]

estherlike,
will do, this is the B.S. that happens in "circles", round and round you go..............

[howard]

I got to thinking, there I go again, about the cleaning contract, that confused me even more. as I pondered about how the commissioners are tied to the existing contract, didn't they run that past legal counsel first? isn't that what their counsel is paid for or, would it cost taxpayers more to simply inquire about it? I really think that our county officials should do a little more homework before jumping in feet first.

[goofball]

Hickory Dickory drab
Commissioners ran up the tab
The bottom fell out
They moved to the south
Hickory Dickory drab

[howard]

chuckle-chuckle! nothing goofy about goofball, hope you become a member and never run out of rhymes. this is some of the feelings that I have noticed on this site, with a twist of humor.

[estherlike]

Goofball, WELCOME TO THE FORUM and I hope you stay a LONG, LONG time

[howard]

something has piqued my interest about the Health Dept. moving their office out to Rte. 60, I will try to get to the bottom of my thought and get back to it as soon as possible. hint-hint, the city also has a Health Dept.

[estherlike]

Howard, I am going to take a stab a the interest and answer what I think maybe the question. YES, the CITY and COUNTY Health Departments are BOTH moving out to Rt 60

[howard]

here's the problem, they are seperate entities. as a member of the charter review committee we talked about combining them, it did not happen, that would have taken a charter ammendment. the city has paid rent to the county to "share" the space in the county office building. I have had several phone conversations today about this subject, as one part of this is up to speed, as I was informed, there is another aspect that needs to be resolved, here it is. section 50 of the "City" charter is titled "DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH", the first sentence says, "the Department of Health of the Ashland City Health District", key word here is "City". the "city" is inside the corporate limits, this is where the "city" has authority, outside is "county" authority. as I expressed my concern and asked how the young mother without transportation would push the stroller out there I did get a reply. this has been talked about in the inner circle with a somewhat we will work something out deal, nothing is set in stone for the residents of the city to have the same access as before. I have asked for this to be addressed publicly, as it has not been yet, and was assured it would be, so keep open ears and I'll get back with any new info I get.

[guest]

What has been discussed in the Commissioners meetings and printed in the TG is that the City agreed to the move and would add a transportation route to allow for City residents to get to the Health Department. It was also stated that the City is looking at adding a satellite office one day a week. That brings to question how the money for the equipment and employees for the satellite office will come be generated? I am sure the City is in no better financial shape than the County so the question remains, where will the revenue for the move, transportation and satellite derive? I don't see where this was reasonably thought out for the City Health Department to move out to Route 60. It is sure not going to help the residents of the City by making this move and I would think that is something they should have a say in.

[howard]

guest, the one day a week is not set in stone. I just had a good read, O.R.C. sections 3709, and all pertaining to health districts, wow what a way to strain the eyes and brain. give it a whirl because there are some interesting things in there. the city may(already are) enter into a contract with the county, the contract is to be specific in nature as to the workings of the health district. the contract is now changed so I think there should be a new one in place(?). as for the city moving out there just county is going there, so I was told. the city utilizes county employees as their own and pays a fee for this. as for revenue, there is a little bit in O.R.C. that states that a tax may NOT be levied for this, like I said it is a good read. here is a little bug that may take some research, health commissioners health insurance may be paid by the city , or the county and it covers their immediate family. these folks only have to meet one day a year? other than that the county needs a webmaster, they still list Bill Strine as mayor on their website under health dept.

[estherlike]

The county has a webmaster and if you look at the article in the TG, the city health department IS moving with the county. This has been stated several times both in the TG and at the Commissioners meetings.