At the October 14, 2015 meeting of the Clark County Commissioners, the commissioners approved funding for flashing lights at three area schools using the county road tax. The county road taxes are used for planning, construction, and maintenance of county roads and bridges. However, at the request of John Burr, County Engineer, Administrators from Clark/Shawnee, Greenon and Northwestern High Schools, and the Sheriff's Department, the commissioners authorized the transfer of $40,000 from the general fund to the MVGT fund. The monies will pay for flashing lights in both directions at the intersections at which each of the schools set.

The lights are needed because all three of the high schools are located at a rural intersection of a two-way stop road and a through road. The buildings were all built at a time when it was believed that schools should be built at an intersection. Since that time, the philosophy has changed and schools are now built with one entrance and one exit.

All three districts have tried for several years to get stoplights or 4-way stops; however, despite requests to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) those desires have been denied.

Richard Lohnes, County Commissioner, and John Burr, County Engineer, have collected data on traffic speed, volume, and accident levels since 2012. They forwarded the information to ODOT and requested changes to the intersections.

According to the response from ODOT, none of the intersections warranted a 4-way stop or traffic light. ODOT uses a formula based on the type of road, speed of traffic, traffic volume, number of accidents, and several other factors to determine traffic control qualifications.

Lohnes said, "I talked to the Senior Traffic Engineer at ODOT and tried to get a waiver since these were school zones; however, ODOT would not agree to a waiver."

As a result, Burr has now proposed putting flashing lights at each of the intersections. He said, "We cannot change the intersections to 4-way stops, nor reduce the speed limit. Therefore, flashing lights seems like the best alternative. The county would mount flashing red lights to provide an additional warning to drivers on the stop roads and flashing yellow lights prior to the intersection on the through roads to say to drivers in both directions, 'Hey , pay attention.' During the last accident at Selma and Possum, the driver blew through the stop sign at 40 MPH. There was no indication that the driver attempted to brake prior to the accident."

Burr also indicated that if the county set the speed limits below the ODOT formula, the lower speed limit are not enforceable. He also provided a study of all intersections in Clark County. None of the intersections met the qualification of at least 14 accidents over a three-year period to make the list of most dangerous intersections. Burr also pointed out that John Detrick, County Commissioner, had said that the commission would be willing to pay for the intersection improvements.

According to Burr, the flashing lights would cost about $40,000 and would be solar powered. He said, "The changes would positively affect 40,000 Clark county residents. The schools were built when cars were slower, and there were fewer drivers."

He also indicated that the Engineers Department is on a tight budget and cannot afford to pay for the lights.

Lohnes said, "This is a no brainer; however, I do not want to set a precedent for the county to pay for traffic regulation."

Detrick added, "We can afford $40,000 if we save one life."

Burr replied, "I don't have the money. Detrick wanted to force ahead with making type change."

Lohnes indicated, "I want the lights to be put up, but I don't want it to come out of the general fund." He asked, "If we don't give the $40,000, it doesn't get done?"

Burr replied, "Not at this time."

Nathan Kennedy interjected, "If the board gives me the direction, I can transfer the funds. There is currently over $1 million in the road fund."

The commissioners moved to include an add-on resolution to transfer $40,000 from the general fund to the Engineer Department's Road Maintenance Fund to cover the expense of flashing lights at the intersections for Northwestern, Clark/Shawnee, and Greenon High Schools.

In other business for the Department of Job and Family Services (DJFS), the commissioners authorized a contract with CND Security, Inc. for $12,678.35 to provide security system equipment, installation, warranty, and training for the Family Visitation Center to allow DJFS to monitor parent/child visitations when there is concern of abuse. The equipment is being funded through a grant.

They also authorized a contract with The Marsh Foundation for $10,000 to provide foster care and residential placement for children effective October 14, 2015 through June 30, 2017.

In addition, they authorized an amendment to the contract with Opportunities for Individual Change (OIC) of Clark County, Inc to increase the contract by $25,000 and extend it through October 31, 2015. The total contract is worth $406,901.50. OIC provides youth programming for low-income Clark County residents.

Furthermore, they accepted a grant agreement with the Ohio Attorney General's Office - Victims of Crime Act for $128, 806.69 for a grant to be used for staff salaries, on-site mental health services, equipment and supplies at the Children's Advocacy Center effective October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. The Advocacy Center handles the most severe abuse, neglect and sexual abuse cases encountered in the county.

Lastly, they canceled the contract with Trilogy Integrated Resources, LLC worth $14,400 effective October 14, 2015. The contract, which renewed automatically each year, is being cancelled because of budget restrictions at DJFS.

For the Clark County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), the commissioners authorized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between The Clark County Commissioners and the Miami Valley Disaster Recovery Team to provide Damage Assessment service to Clark County EMA in case of a disaster. The MOU is for $0.00 and is effective indefinitely.

For the Auditor's Office, the commissioners authorized the extension of the sale of dog tags for 2016 through Monday, February 1, 2016 because January 31, 2016 is a Sunday.

For the Clark County Planning Commission, the commissioners reappointed Charlene Roberge and David Minard to the Planning Commission for terms ending on October 14, 2018.

For Planning and Zoning, the commissioners set a public hearing date for Wednesday, October 28, 2015 for a rezoning request from Erick Johnson, Patricia Stephens, and Joshua and Carrie Hall. The request is to rezone the three following properties on E. National Road, totaling 24.43 acres, from R-1 Rural Residential to A-1 Agricultural. The properties include 5.23 at 9027 E. National Road, 14.2 acres at 9071 E. National Road and 5 acres at 9093 E. National Road.

In regular business, the commissioners approved payment of $40,577.83 to the Montgomery County Treasurer for Clark County's share of 2014 Court of Appeals operating costs.

In addition, they approved 33 Then and Now expenditures for over $60,000. According to Virginia Martycz of DJFS the Then and Nows requested by her department were primarily caused by an amendment that was missed. She said, "We are working with the Auditor's Office to avoid these in the future. We are not trying to add to budgeting difficulties, but trying to clean up our books and resolve the issues caused by different requirements from the county and state."

The commissioners also authorized a decrease in the contract with New Carlisle by $5,000. The money was loaned to the village and has now been repaid. The total contract for services provided by the county to New Carlisle effective January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015 is worth $159, 579.37.

The next meeting of the Clark County Commissioners is scheduled for October 21, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. in the Clark County Commissioners' Conference Room at 50 E. Columbia Street.