County Board proclaims American Indian Heritage Month
<p dir="ltr"><span>With Thanksgiving less than a month away, the Randolph County Board of Commissioners concurred with National American Indian Heritage Month by proclaiming the observance within Randolph County during last week's meeting.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Randolph County historian Emily Lyons, on behalf of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) Liberty Bell of the West Chapter, joined the commissioners in the issuance of the proclamation.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"The Liberty Bell of the West Chapter supports this, as well as the American Indians Committee," Lyons said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Native Americans Week began in 1976 and recognition was expanded to National American Indian Heritage Month by Congress and approved by President George Bush in August 1990.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>In other news, the commissioners and Randolph County Health Department Administrator Tom Smith discussed the Opioid Task Force and the process of addressing drug and alcohol abuse in the county.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Some counties are further along than us," Smith said. "We're all alike, but we're all different."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Smith spoke on the work his agency and Stephanie Martin, public information officer and health educator at the department, is doing on educating others on the issue.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"It's not just heroin, it's toxins and all kinds of things," Smith said. "It's intervention that's becoming more complex."</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Smith said part of the process is monitoring the payment of prescriptions.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"People sell prescriptions and buy heroin because it's cheaper," Smith said, noting a slight trending increase in heroin use in Randolph County.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Board Chairman Marc Kiehna highlighted the recent town hall presentations on teen drinking in Randolph County, which is higher than both the state and national averages. Coverage of Chester's town hall, which occurred Monday, is in this issue.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Long-term movement to help with this issue, not a flash in the pan," Kiehna said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Honeywell Business Consultant Kevin Bollman was on hand once again to provide the latest on the rehabilitation to the Randolph County Courthouse.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Bollman noted the recently-installed roof passed warranty inspection and is now fully protected for the next 30 years.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>New chiller units were to be delivered Tuesday, with the demolition and installation of new air handling units to take place within the next three to four weeks.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kiehna asked Bollman about when the Randolph County jail roof replacement project could begin. Bollman said as soon as the new chillers are installed and turned on, the project could begin. He added that he would coordinate with the county's architect, Michael Schneider, on that endeavor.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Overall, Bollman said Project Manager Joe Zakrocky hopes for the project to be "100 percent complete" by the end of the year.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"Initially, there were some hiccups with equipment being delivered in the wrong size, but he's accelerated the project and I would say we're ahead of schedule," Bollman said.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Kiehna asked Bollman about a change order that Zakrocky proposed during the board's previous meeting regarding strainers for the domestic water system due to sediment in the pipes.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>Bollman said he would get more information for the board regarding whether it would be one strainer for the building or one per plumbing fixture.</span>
<p dir="ltr">CARE CENTER
<p dir="ltr"><span>Randolph County Care Center Administrator Ken Slavens reported to the board on the care center's new Alzheimer's facility.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>"We normally try and reach out if we can, but when you have that mental process, it's a challenge with the group (of residents) that we have," he said.</span>
<p dir="ltr">BOARD APPOINTMENTS
<p dir="ltr"><span>The commissioners made several reappointments to the Randolph County Tourism Committee. Jane Lucht, Carol Meyer, Norma Baughman and Linda Butler were all appointed to three-year terms expiring October 1, 2019.</span>
<p dir="ltr">Roundup
<p dir="ltr"><span>• The board concurred with a Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation to grant a zoning map amendment to the Coleman property on Minton Drive in Percy. Land Resource Management Administrator Dave Walter said a 4.5 acre tract of old coal mine property would be rezoned from industrial to rural residential to build a new homesite for a residence.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>• The board also concurred with the Zoning Board of Appeals on a special use permit for Eugene Liefer in Red Bud. Liefer was wishing to separate seven acres of his property, with a homesite, for a family member.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>• The board approved a delinquent tax resolution for Sparta Township, with the City of Sparta paying $636 for the county's interest in the property.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>• General assistance for the period was $118.04, with administrative costs at $1,707.26.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>• The Randolph County Care Center was reported to have 64 residents.</span>
<p dir="ltr"><span>• County Engineer Mike Riebeling reported his agency is set for road salt this winter, with the price of $64 per ton.</span>