Commissioners OK request to place 0.45-mill health department levy renewal on ballot

Health Commissioner Vickie Taylor briefed the Ashland County commissioners on the need for their approval to place a 0.45-mill renewal levy on the ballot.

“It is a renewal levy, not an increase levy,” Taylor said. “We have decided we could continue on the funding that we have.”

Taylor then talked about funding for the Health Department.

“The county commissioners themselves ... their budget does not support public health,” she said. “I think there are a lot of people out there who think that when they see the transfer that you are giving money to the public health department. Our funding comes from the levy, our contract with the city and then grant funding and state funding.”

The levy brings in about $400,00 of the $1.2 million used each year, Taylor said, noting the department manages nine-10 grants at a time, all with specific items tied to their use.

“We have multiple funding sources,” she added, “but if we lose any one of them, it puts a huge impact on our budget.”

Commissioners authorized the request to place the levy renewal on the ballot. It will be for 0.45 mill for five years.

Other action commissioners:

• Authorized the appointment of Kelson Batten as ADA coordinator for the county effective Aug. 1
• Accepted a quote for $47,085 for to purchase a 2024 F-150 STX Crew Cab truck to be used by the Solid Waste District.
• Approved advertising that the adopted county tax budget for the calendar year 2025 for the county is available for public inspection on weekdays at the Commissioner’s Office, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Accepted an estimate from VASU Communications of $31,558.07 for the replacement of the Ruggle’s tornado siren after EMA Director Anne Strouth explained the procedures taken to replace the existing one.
• Entered into an enterprise zone agreement with the city, JT & Sonsand Harris Welding as requested by Mayor Matt Miller.

Commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 9, in the Commissioner’s Conference Room on the second floor of the County Office Building. The meetings are open to the public. They also are live-streamed on the Ashland County Government Facebook page.