BATAVIA, Ohio (Aug. 11, 2015) — Clermont County residents who are interested in assisting with the direction of local addiction and mental health services in the county are invited to contact the Clermont County Mental Health and Recovery Board (CCMHRB) about volunteer positions on its Board of Directors.
Two positions will be appointed by County Commissioners, from applications gathered and reviewed by the CCMHRB. Applicants must live in the county and have an interest in mental health and/or alcohol/drug issues.
Two additional positions will be appointed by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OMHAS). One must be a person who has received services for alcohol and/or drug use and the other can be a mental health or addictions professional, a family member of someone who has or had a mental health or addiction issue, or someone involved in advocating for mental health and/or alcohol/drug services.
The selected individuals would join a 14-member board representing a variety of interests, including professionals from the mental health and alcohol/drug fields, family members, individuals in recovery, and community representatives. The Board meets monthly at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of the month; members also are involved periodically in committee meetings.
CCMHRB is the local board of alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services. It is the county agency responsible for planning, monitoring, evaluating, and funding all mental health and addiction services in the county provided through public dollars.
If you are interested in serving on the board, please email a letter of interest and a resume to CCMHRB mburke@ccmhrb.org, or mail to CCMHRB, 2337 Clermont Center Drive, Batavia, OH 45103, or call the CCMHRB office at 513-732-5400 for more information.
BATAVIA, Ohio (Aug. 10, 2015) — Ten years ago, Clermont County Sheriff A.J. “Tim” Rodenberg evaluated the County Jail trustee program and decided it could be expanded.
Trustees – jail inmates who were entrusted with performing certain jobs inside the jail and on the grounds – would now be allowed to work outside the jail, in county government buildings and sometimes other public buildings, always under the supervision of a corrections officer or deputy sheriff.
“We have more inmates in it now and they’re doing more things,” said Rodenberg. “They’re out more in other county offices, around the buildings, cleaning, doing landscaping, and snow removal.
“It allows inmates to get out. It gets them some fresh air, gets them some exercise,” he added. “In return for doing the work, if they do it satisfactorily and don’t cause problems, we report that back to the judges and the judges award two days credit for one day of work.”
In 2014, Clermont County had 415 inmates in the trustee program. The work they did saved Clermont County, and its taxpayers, approximately $864,000, after accounting for the salaries and benefits of the officers who supervise the crews. No inmates are paid for their work.
County’s program differs
Trustee programs are not unusual. Many county jails have them. Inmates typically clean and buff floors, work in the laundry, pick up trash, and mow the lawn surrounding the jail. What makes Clermont County’s program different is allowing trustees to work outside the jailhouse perimeter. “Those who are at lowest risk work outside,” said Capt. Bill Hogue, who supervises the program.
This summer, for example, trustees helped set up county booths at the County Fair, and also set up tents for the U.S. Rowing Club Nationals at Lake Harsha. You may have spotted the men – they wear green shirts. They clean several county buildings and maintain the lawns and shrubs. They have painted, tiled and carpeted. They sometimes work in school buildings during summer, painting and preparing them for the next school year, said Sheriff Rodenberg.
At any one time, about 70-75 trustees are in the program, said Hogue. “To be selected, they first must apply because the program is voluntary,” he said. “They are then evaluated on a number of factors, including the offense they were convicted of; their sentence; past criminal history; any history of escape; are they a repeat offender.
“We also consider what the corrections officers say about them – they know the inmates best,” Hogue said.
The program isn’t just for male inmates; female trustees primarily work inside the jail, in the laundry room, cafeteria, or scanning records for Clermont County.
“Selection into the program tells the inmates they have earned a level of trust,” said Sheriff Rodenberg. “We’ve selected you into the program because we believe you can do it, and do it right without getting into any trouble.”
Motivation for inmates
Why would an inmate want to be a trustee? “The biggest reason,” said Sheriff Rodenberg, “is they get time off their sentences. For every day they work, they get two days off their sentence.” It also keeps the inmates busy, and reinforces good work habits. In some cases, inmates even pick up new skills.
Inmates interviewed for this story all mentioned the “two for one” benefit of being a trustee and reducing their sentence. “I will get to go home sooner,” said one woman who worked in the laundry room. “And it helps to pass the day.”
“I feel like we’re treated more responsibly,” said another woman who was scanning records. “It gives us something to do while we’re here,” said a woman who was putting a food tray together in the cafeteria.
And the county benefits as well, said Sheriff Rodenberg. “It saves the county a lot of money. Otherwise we would have to hire people or contract for these services,” he said. “And it saves space in the jail on good days earned.”
Overcrowding has been an issue at the jail, said the sheriff, and this helps address it.
“Most inmates are not in our jail that long,” said Sheriff Rodenberg. “This can take days, sometimes weeks, off their sentence. It’s better that they get out and become good citizens, productive citizens, so that they don’t come back.”
(Photos: Above, a trustee inmates trims shrubs at the County Administration Building.)
Bill DeHass and intern Paige Knechtly.
BATAVIA, Ohio (Aug. 4, 2015) — Paige Knechtly, 19, is working this summer as an administrative assistant at Clermont Senior Services. The UC sophomore, a graduate of Batavia High School, has worked “brilliantly,” said her boss, Community Services Director Bill DeHass. Her responsibilities range from working the front desk to delivering Meals on Wheels to checking bus pickups for accuracy. “I have a really busy schedule,” Paige says, and it’s one that she enjoys.
Paige is one of almost 100 young people enrolled and working this year in the Summer Youth Employment Program, operated through Clermont County Job and Family Services and Easter Seals TriState. That compares to 35 youth last year. The increase, says JFS Director Judy Eschmann, is due to old-fashioned word of mouth, as well as publicity from last summer’s program.
“We started to promote the program earlier this year,” she said. “Every meeting that I went to, or my team went to, we talked up this program and how good it was for our youth.”
Every meeting and every newsletter and every social media post was an opportunity to enlist more kids and more employers. This year, 28 employers signed up. They included a mix of Clermont County departments and districts, several non-profits such as Senior Services and the Clermont Chamber of Commerce, and private employers including three McDonald’s, Cross Town Motors, Elks Run Golf Course and Neff Landscaping.
“School districts in particular stepped up, and used this opportunity to hire students from the district,” said Eschmann. Felicity-Franklin High School, which has a strong advocate in maintenance manager David Diesel, hired 17 students. Goshen schools hired five students; Batavia schools, three; West Clermont, six; Williamsburg schools, five; and Grant Career Center, four.
The program is open to young people ages 14-24. They are paid $10 an hour and work 40 hours a week. Funds come from the federal program Temporary Aid to Needy Families, so the employer does not actually pay the wages. For some young people, it’s their first job, and they must show good work habits: starting on time, being dependable, working hard. For many, the $400 a week paycheck can make a big difference in their lives. “The pay has helped me a lot with college,” said Paige, who is majoring in health promotion and education.
“Paige has been great,” said Senior Services’ DeHass. “She’s been quick to catch on. I see two benefits to the program: We’re getting some great talent and assistance, and letting her see how our organization benefits the community. For the youth, they are around professionals and seeing what the work is like and what the future might hold for them when it comes to a career.”
As for the work itself, Paige says, “It’s been very eye-opening. It feels good to be able to help people. When I deliver Meals on Wheels, the customers know exactly who I am!”
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 27, 2015) — Clermont County residents may be able to get lower electrical and natural gas rates if voters approve two ballot measures in November that would establish a governmental aggregation program for each utility.
Clermont County Commissioners voted to put the measures on the Nov. 3 ballot at their July 22 session.
The programs, if approved, would be for residents and small businesses in unincorporated areas of the county. They would both include an opt-out provision.
Ohio law allows for communities – counties, township, cities, etc. – to form aggregated buying groups to buy electric generation on behalf of their citizens. “By bringing citizens together, the aggregation gains group buying power and typically can negotiate a better price with the supplier … the governmental aggregator chooses the electric generation supplier for all of the customer-members in its group,” according to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO), which guides counties through this process.
“Currently in Ohio, 23 counties and more than 100,000 households and businesses have been guided through CCAO,” said Ed Humphrey, President of the Board of County Commissioners. “Aggregation through CCAO’s guidance has allowed customers to save $12 million a year in utility charges. We’d like to bring those savings to Clermont County.”
“We think this is a win-win for our residents,” said Commissioner Bob Proud. “If these programs are approved, residents should be able to save on both their electric and gas bills.”
Added Commissioner David Uible: “The guidance offered through CCAO gives our citizens the advantages of group buying and lower prices. We want to offer voters the opportunity to get those discounts.”
If either or both programs are approved in November, it would be at least five months before consumers would be able to switch to the aggregated program. Among other things, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio would have to certify a plan for each, and an RFP would be issued to select a vendor to provide the generation service.
In Clermont County, voters have approved electrical and gas aggregation in Miami Township and Loveland.
BATAVIA, Ohio –(July 25, 2015) Renewal levies to support Clermont County Children’s Protective Services and the Mental Health and Recovery Board (MHRB) will be on the Nov. 3 ballot.
At their session July 22, Clermont County Commissioners approved the levies for the ballot:
• The Children’s Protective Services (CPS) five-year levy would stay at its current 0.80 millage or $23.66 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home. The levy would renew on Jan. 1, 2017, and extend to Dec. 31, 2021.
• The MHRB five-year renewal levy, on the same cycle as CPS, is for its current 0.50 millage, plus an additional 0.25. This comes to $23.54 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home.
CPS
Local funding through the levy provides 49% of Children’s Protective Services budget, said Judy Eschmann, Director of Clermont County Department of Job and Family Services, which includes CPS. The balance of the budget is provided through state and federal funding.
CPS, which typically has about 350 children in its care at any time, investigates reports of child abuse and neglect. In 2014, it investigated 593 allegations of physical abuse, 186 allegations of sexual abuse, and 551 allegations of neglect. Last year, approximately 40% of cases of children removed from their homes was related to drug use by parents.
“Our ultimate goal is to keep our Clermont County children safe. Through a combination of education, treatment and services, we work with families to create safe homes for children,” said Eschmann.
MHRB
The spike in heroin abuse in the county is one of the reasons that MHRB is asking for a 0.25 increase in its levy, said Executive Director Karen Scherra. As federal and state funding dwindle, mental health boards are being required to do more, she said. By September 2016 Ohio mental health boards will be required to provide a “continuum of care” for opiate-addicted clients, which may range from an increase in medication-assisted treatment to additional residential treatment to 12-step programs.
In 2014, the MHRB served, through its contracted vendors, 1,000 adults with mental health issues; 1,350 adolescents and adults with alcohol and drug issues; 625 children; 5,000 in prevention services; and 3,500 in community education and advocacy. In 2014, funds from the mental health levy provided about a third of MHRB’s $6.5 million budget. MHRB has been dipping into its reserves to make up for declining revenue from state and federal sources, Scherra noted.
“The Board has been dealing with decreased state funding but increased needs for both mental health and addiction services, especially for those individuals in the county using heroin,” said Scherra. “So it is absolutely necessary to try for additional local resources through our levy, in order to address these needs and help people recover from these illnesses.”
(Photo: Staffers from CPS at the annual Joy of Adoption ceremony in 2014.)
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 24, 2015) – Gordmans, a new store opening in the shopping center across from Jungle Jim’s Eastgate, plans to hire up to 125 people. It will hold two hiring events at Ohio Means Jobs/Clermont on July 30 and Aug. 4, both from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Gordmans, which is scheduled to open Sept. 23, will hire for cashiers, guest services associates, sales floor associates, stockroom lead, stockroom associates, sales floor leads, and accessories lead.
Ohio Means Jobs/Clermont is located at 756 Old State Route 74, Suite A, Cincinnati, 45245.
Those who can’t make the job fair can apply online at Gordmans.com/careers.
Child Enforcement Support staff plus commissioners.
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 22, 2015) – Ohio’s child support program affects more children in the state than any other public program, except education. That’s one reason Clermont County Commissioners proclaimed August Child Support Awareness Month at their July 22 session.
In Clermont County, Child Support Enforcement, a division of the county’s Department of Job and Family Services, administers child support for almost 20,000 children in 13,369 families, said JFS Assistant Director Brenda Gilreath. In 2014, Child Support administered more than $36 million in child support; of that, $27 million was collected through wage garnishment.
Child Support Enforcement provides many services, such as establishing paternity for children born out of wedlock, and establishing orders for child support or medical insurance. The division also modifies existing orders and provides early intervention services.
“Child support is essential to building some stability in a child’s life, whether that child is born to a single mother or the parents have divorced,” said Gilreath. “And it’s important to note that the majority of all parents – 72 percent — are in compliance with court-ordered child support.”
When parents are not in compliance or when administrative actions fail, Child Support Services works closely with the courts. Last year, 1,969 contempt of court hearings were conducted at Clermont County Domestic Relations and Juvenile Courts. A number of cases end up in Common Pleas Court, where delinquent parents are prosecuted and sometimes sent to prison.
Child Support Enforcement is holding several events in August in honor of Child Support Awareness Month:
• Aug. 4: Partners Summit. Judges Jerry McBride, Common Pleas Court; Kathleen Rodenberg, Domestic Relations Court; and James Shriver, Juvenile Court, will speak. State Director Jeff Aldridge will also provide a program update.
• Aug. 5: Wear green in honor of Child Support Awareness Month. Citizens throughout Clermont County are encouraged to wear green.
• Aug. 11: Employee Appreciation Luncheon – Pattison Park
• Aug. 21: Regional training for attorneys involved in child support cases. Attorneys from Adams, Brown, Clermont and Highland counties are invited to participate in this free 2-hour training, approved by the Ohio Supreme Court. The training will be held at Batavia Township Community Center.
For more information, contact Gilreath at brenda.gilreath@jfs.ohio.gov or 513-732-7887; more information is also available at www.clermontsupportskids.org.
(Photo above: Commissioner Bob Proud, left; Case Manager Supervisor Jemina Ott, Case Manager Supervisor Judy Howard; Fiscal Officer Annette Black, Lead Attorney Theresa Ellison; Assistant Director Brenda Gilreath, Commissioner David Uible; Commissioner Ed Humphrey.)
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BATAVIA, Ohio (July 22, 2015) – Clermont County will auction off 41 vehicles on Saturday, Aug. 8, in the rear parking lot of Municipal Court. Bidding begins at 10 a.m.
The vehicles include older county cars and buses, and vehicles seized by the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office. Among them are eight Ford Crown Victorias from 2003 through 2011, a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, 2004 Ford Explorer, and 2002 Ford F150. Six 2001 New Flyer passenger buses are also available.
Buyers can pay with cash or check with an ID. Vehicles need to be removed within five business days of the sale. Title transfer information will be collected on the day of sale, and transfer of title will be the buyer’s responsibility. Notarized titles will be mailed out within 10 business days.
The money raised from the auction goes back to the fund that paid for the vehicle – either the county’s General Fund or the sheriff’s narcotics unit.
Clermont County Municipal Court is located at 4330 State Route 222, Batavia. #######
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 15, 2015) – U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, will speak at the annual Salute to Veterans, Troops and Their Families at 6 p.m. Sunday July 26 at the Clermont County Fair.
The annual event, organized by Clermont County Commissioner Bob Proud, will also feature a flyover by a World War II Warbird, flown by Todd Winemiller. Congressman Wenstrup, who has served in the U.S. Army Reserve since 1998, and was awarded a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for his service in Iraq, will also perform a ceremonial swearing-in of recruits from various military branches.
“We really encourage people to come to this event and show their appreciation for troops who are currently serving, veterans who have proudly served, and of course, families of these men and women, who often make great sacrifices for our country,” said Commissioner Proud. “This is a time to say thank you to all of them, and to wish Godspeed to the new recruits.”
July 26 is Preview Day at the fair. Parking and admission are free. The Clermont County Fairgrounds are located at 1000 Locust St., Owensville.
BATAVIA, Ohio (July 7, 2015) — Voters in the Village of Bethel will be the first Clermont County residents to use new ballot tabulation scanners in their Aug. 4 Special Election. Voters will still fill in the ovals on their paper ballot to vote for or against the 8 mill police tax levy, but the tabulation equipment will be new, with a larger and more legible screen. It will also be easier for poll workers to set up.
County Commissioners purchased the new tabulation equipment in May for the entire county, which includes 166 voting precincts, at the recommendation of the Board of Elections. The Board of Elections plans to use the new equipment for the entire county in the Nov. 3 General Election. This will serve as a trial run prior to the Presidential Primary Election on March 15, 2016.
The current tabulation equipment is over 10 years old and both the Board of Elections and the Board of Commissioners agreed that the continued reliability of the older equipment could become questionable.
Early voting for the Bethel Special Election starts July 7. Voters can either vote by mail or vote at the Board of Elections during office hours until Election Day or vote at the polls on Election Day.
To vote by mail voters can call the Board of Elections at 513-732-7275 to request an application or they can print one off the Board of Elections’ website at www.ClermontElections.org. Voters can then mail the completed application to the Board of Elections to receive their ballot in the mail.
Voters can also vote at the Board of Elections during office hours 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Extended hours will take place 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Aug. 1; 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2; and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3. On Election Day, polls will be open 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Bethel Village Community Building, 129 N. Union St.
The Clermont County Board of Elections is located at 76 S. Riverside, Batavia, 45103. #######
