VOLUME XXXXVIII NO. 15 APRIL 23, 2010 DATES TO REMEMBER APRIL 30, 2010 APRIL 30, 2010 APRIL 2010 MAY 12, 2010 JUNE 10, 2010 JUNE 11, 2010 CCAO/OSWDO/OEEF SOLID WASTE TRAINING COURSE, WARREN COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, WARREN COUNTY(LEBANON) CCC/EAPA REGIONAL MEETING, OLD COURTHOUSE, ASHTABULA COUNTY (JEFFERSON) NATIONAL COUNTY GOVERNMENT MONTH OHIO S PREVAILING WAGE LAW-CCAO SECOND WEDNESDAY SEMINAR SERIES, CCAO OFFICES, COLUMBUS CCAO BOARD OF TRUSTEES, CCAO OFFICES, COLUMBUS CCAO/CEAO SUMMER SEMINAR, DOUBLETREE COLUMBUS WORTHINGTON HOTEL, FRANKLIN COUNTY (COLUMBUS) JULY 16-20, 2010 NACo ANNUAL CONFERENCE, RENO/SPARKS CONVENTION CENTER, RENO/WASHOIE COUNTY (RENO), NV ASSOCIATION NEWS WHICH WORKERS COMP MANAGED CARE ORGANIZATION IS RIGHT FOR YOU? - GETTING READY FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT MAY 3 31 The 2010 workers comp open enrollment period is upon us! Once again, Ohio employers will have the opportunity to select the managed care organization (MCO) they want to handle their workers comp claims for the next two years. Counties can expect a marketing blitz as companies compete for their business. If you are satisfied with your current MCO, you do not need to do anything to continue with that company. Last week in CIDS, we stated that Counties that participate in the CCAO Group Retrospective Rating Plan (Belmont, Champaign, Coshocton, Fairfield, Fayette, Gallia, Geauga, Hocking, Mercer, Monroe, Ottawa, Seneca, Union, Vinton and Williams) have already elected to retain CompManagement Health Systems (CHS) as their MCO and do not need to participate in this open enrollment period. This was not correct. Counties in 1
Group Retro agreed to retain CompManagement Inc. as their TPA. There is no mandate for MCO. This was our mistake and no reflection on CHS or CMI. We apologize for the misstatement. Here are some key questions to consider in evaluating your MCO: Does the organization provide and quantify significant medical savings? Do they have a strong return to work rate which ensures your employees are returning to the job in a safe, quick, and effective manner? Do they provide personal service including dedicated account executives and nurse case managers, quarterly meetings, on-site nurses, regional workshops, and workers compensation program assessments? Do they have a full-time medical director on staff to provide services including availability at workshops, training, claim staffings, provider communication and partnership planning? Is the organization committed to online services by providing sophisticated clinical editing and bill review platforms, full imaging/scanning services, and 24 hour real time online access to your claim status, diagnosis, medical information, staff notes and medical documents? CCAO endorses CompManagement Health Systems (CHS) as our preferred MCO partner. CHS is available at (888) 247-7799, press option 1; or contact Beth Miller, CORSA Claim & Litigation Manager, at (614) 220-7989, (888) 757-1904 or emiller@ccao.org if you have any questions. ISSUE 1 OHIO THIRD FRONTIER BACKED BY CCAO BOARD The CCAO Board of Trustees voted to endorse Issue 1, a statewide measure on the May 4 primary ballot that will renew the highly successful Ohio Third Frontier initiative. The Ohio Third Frontier is an economic development and jobs program launched in 2002 that has created more than 48,000 new jobs, helped launch 571 new companies, supported expansion of existing companies and generated $6.6 billion in economic activity across Ohio. A partnership involving state government, private industry, higher education and a variety of other research and nonprofit organizations, the Ohio Third Frontier program makes targeted investments in promising industries, technologies, small businesses and entrepreneurs that show promise for stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. The Ohio Third Frontier initially was funded through multiple sources of State dollars. In 2002, Ohio voters approved the current bond funding mechanism for the program. That funding expires in 2012. Issue 1 will authorize $700 million in bonds to extend funding through 2016. Issue 1 will not raise taxes. CCAO strongly encourages county commissioners and other local officials publicly to support passage of Issue 1 which promises to create jobs and economic activity throughout the state. The Third Frontier Program has a proven record of bringing technologically innovative ideas to the marketplace since its inception in 2002. CCAO encourages support for State Issue 1 so that the Third Frontier Program may continue to create jobs through technological research and innovation, said CCAO Executive Director Larry Long. Issue 1 has attracted broad bipartisan support, including both candidates for Governor and the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly, as well as individuals and organizations in most major sectors of Ohio s economy. To learn more about Issue 1, visit www.unitedforjobsohio.com. 2
CCAO ENDORSES STATE ISSUE 2 The CCAO Board of Trustees voted to endorse the proposed constitutional amendment State Issue 2 which would change the location of the Columbus casino facility as authorized by a statewide vote at the November, 2009 General Election. State Issue 2 will be up for statewide voter approval at the Primary Election to be held on May 4. CCAO endorses local leaders having control of economic development and working with the developers to best suit their community needs. Franklin County Commissioner and CCAO President Paula Brooks stated, This is not about gambling. This is about making sure that local communities decide these matters. Our top priority now, needs to be working together to get shovels in the ground and help our middle class families get back to work. Supporting Issue 2 is easy for me. If the citizens of our county were faced with trying to constructively manage the location of a casino in our community, I would hope that the rest of the state would be there to stand with us. We need to support the citizens of Columbus in their effort to manage their own community - it is an issue of fairness and local control, commented Tim W. Brown, Wood County Commissioner. State Issue 2 is a very simple amendment to Section 6 of Article XV of the Ohio Constitution that would authorize only a change in the location of a previously-authorized casino in Columbus. Passage of State Issue 2 will have no impact on the casino projects authorized in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo. The proposed amendment would change the location of the Columbus area casino authorized by statewide vote at the November, 2009 General Election from the area known as The Arena District to the site of a former General Motors/Delphi Corporation manufacturing plant located on the West Side. The proposed casino site would be re-located to West Broad Street near Georgesville and Phillipi Roads at a location that has been vacant since 2007. The planned $400 million investment by casino developer Penn National Gaming would be located closer to better highway access near I-70 and I-270. Relocating the casino would breathe new life into an area of vacant buildings, overgrown grasses and littered properties. The location for the Columbus casino met community opposition. Following discussions with neighborhood, civic, business and government leaders, Penn National Gaming agreed to move the casino to a site that met approval of the surrounding community and where it would spur economic revitalization. CCAO/CEAO SUMMER SEMINAR TO BE HELD JUNE 11 Franklin County Commissioners Paula Brooks, Marilyn Brown, and John O Grady and County Engineer Dean Ringle cordially invite all county commissioners, engineers, affiliates and guests to the CCAO/CEAO Summer Seminar to be held June 11, 2010. Meetings will be held at the Doubletree Hotel Columbus/Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Avenue, in Columbus. In response to requests from counties, CCAO/CEAO has changed the format of the traditional two-day summer conference to a one-day seminar. All conference educational sessions will take place on Friday, June 11. Registration will open at 8:00 a.m. with sessions beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m. There will be one registration fee for all attendees that will include conference registration, continental breakfast, beverage breaks, and lunch. Registration information will be available next week. AFTER IT LEAVES THE CURB: A SOLID WASTE TRAINING COURSE APRIL 30 CCAO and the Organization of Solid Waste Districts of Ohio (OSWDO) are sponsoring the last of four solid waste management training sessions, After It Leaves the Curb on April 30, 2010 at the Warren County Administration Building, 406 Justice Drive Room 120, Warren County (Lebanon). The training session will 3
includes a summary of solid waste management in Ohio from the perspective of solid waste districts. The targeted audience includes county commissioners, solid waste district policy committee members and boards of trustees. Training funds are provided by the Ohio EPA Environmental Education Fund (OEEF) grant that was given to the CCAO Research and Education Fund. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. with the training sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 2:00 p.m. Registration fee (includes lunch): $15 county commissioners, trustees of solid waste authorities, policy committee members of solid waste districts, solid waste district personnel, planning directors, and the Ohio EPA or $50 other attendees. For more information about the training, please contact Brad Cole, CCAO Managing Director of Research, at (614) 220-7981, (888) 757-1904 or bcole@ccao.org. For information about registration, contact Amanda Jones, CCAO Administrative Assistant, at (614) 220-7985, (888) 757-1904 or ajones@ccao.org. OHIO S PREVAILING WAGE LAW; 2ND WEDNESDAY S SEMINAR MAY 12 During these challenging economic conditions county commissioners are understandably interested in making sure that construction projects are properly managed in full compliance with all applicable laws including the prevailing wage law. CCAO will be hosting Ohio s Prevailing Wage Law the second in a series of Second Wednesday s seminars on Wednesday, May 12 at the CCAO Offices, 209 East State Street, in Columbus. This program will provide the opportunity for commissioners and county officials to review how prevailing wages are determined, what projects are covered, where to go to get answers to questions, and what are the current trends and issues under discussion from experts with the Ohio Department of Commerce, the Ohio Attorney General s office, county prevailing wage coordinators, and legal experts in the practice of construction law. The seminar will begin sharply at 9:30 a.m. and will conclude promptly at 12:30 p.m. Registrations will be accepted only by email. Seminar information is attached to this issue of CIDS and posted on our website at www.ccao.org. Coffee will be served during the morning and lunch will be on your own. Best of all, no registration fee will be charged! A flyer containing information and instructions on how to register for New Opportunities in Veterans Services seminar is linked on the front page of the CCAO website at www.ccao.org. To register, contact Janet Erwin, CCAO Administrative Assistant, at jerwin@ccao.org. STATE ACTIVITIES OHIO COMMISSION ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM AND COLLABORATION The Ohio Commission on Local Government Reform and Collaboration will hold its next meeting/work session on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. in the CCAO Offices in Columbus. The Commission is co-chaired by Lake County Commissioner Daniel Troy and Lucas County Auditor Anita Lopez. So that adequate seating is available in the audience, county commissioners wishing to attend this meeting should RSVP their attendance to Kathy Dillon, CCAO Office Manager and Boards Liaison, at (614) 220-7998, (888) 757-1904 or kathydillon@ccao.org. The Commission is a legislatively created 15-member panel charged with researching and writing a report that recommends reform and collaboration measures in order to improve local government operations and service delivery. The Commission must issue a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by July 1, 2010. Considerable information about the work of the Commission can be found on the Commission s website at www.ohioreformandcollaboration.org. The website also includes a portal for those interested in submitting recommendations to the Commission rather than testifying in person. 4
OPERS PLAN DESIGN INFORMATIONAL MEETING MAY 11 The Ohio Public Employee Retirement System (OPERS) Board has directed their staff hold a series of meetings across the state for all OPERS members and retirees to discuss the recommended plan design changes the Board proposed to the Ohio Retirement Study Council in November 2009. Several meetings have been held. The next scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the University of Toledo Law Center Auditorium, located between Secor Road and West Towerview Blvd., in Toledo. This OPERS session for members and retirees will be held at 5:00 to 6:15 p.m. Parking is adjacent to the facility. For a map and directions go to http://www.utoledo.edu/campus/directions/pdfs/maincampusmap.pdf. You do not need to RSVP for the event. For more information, contact: Carol Nolan Drake, J.D., Chief External Affairs Officer, Ohio PERS, 277 East Town Street, Columbus, OH 43215, (614) 222-0398, or cdrake@opers.org. FEDERAL ACTIVITIES CENSUS TAKERS START KNOCKING MAY 1 Starting May 1, residents who have not returned their form by April 16 will be visited by a Census Bureau employee, called an enumerator or census taker, to collect the information in person. This process will take place until the end of July 2010. In an effort to support non response follow up (census taker visits), the State has prepared a Google Earth file of the lowest participation rates from the Take 10 Map. Maps of Ohio s participation rates can be found at http://census.ohio.gov/maps.aspx. Please consider using this tool to reach out to local organizations and ask them to encourage residents to answer the door to a Census Taker. Do your county residents have questions about completing your 2010 Census form? By now, thousands of Ohioans have received the Census in the mail, but many are uncertain how to answer some of the questions. Encourage residents to take just 10 minutes to answer 10 questions that will affect funding in Ohio for the next 10 years. For every Census form that is returned by mail, you save the Census Bureau from sending a person to follow-up. Door-to-door follow-up costs $57 per household. Call the Census help line at 1-866-872-6868 to obtain a missing form. Important instructions for submitting 2010 Census information over the phone: 1. Call the Telephone Questionnaire Assistance center phone number and listen to a recorded message. 2. The resident will then be prompted to dictate a response: reply operator. 3. This will take the resident directly to a call center operator. 4. The resident will need to then tell the operator: I want to submit 2010 Census information over the phone with an agent. 5. They will be transferred to an agent who will go through the form and enter the information into the system. 6. Since this is information is uploaded instantly, the Take 10 map will reflect that household as complete! If residents use the phone number and still receive a visit, they will need to tell the census taker their information again. The census taker will not know that they already filled it out and residents are asked to be patient and resubmit their 2010 Census answers. For more information about your county s response 5
rate go to http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/. For more information about the Census, visit: www.census.ohio.gov. NACo ACTIVITIES WHITLEY TO APPOINT LEADERSHIP TEAM FOR 2010-11 Tarrant County (TX) Judge and NACo President-Elect Glenn Whitley will be considering the following appointments to his 2010-11 Leadership Team in early May. Steering Committee Leadership The 11 steering committees will each have a leadership team consisting of a chair, vice-chairs, subcommittee chairs, and vice-chairs. Active members of the steering committees are given first preference. This does not include steering committee membership nominations. CCAO will process nominations in early June. (See article below.) Caucus Leadership These one-year appointments include the Rural Action Caucus and Large Urban County Caucus Steering Committees chair and vice-chairs. Active members of the steering committees are given first preference. At-Large Appointments to the NACo Board of Directors These ten one-year appointments add diversity to the board. Standing Committees Four committees (i.e., Finance, Information Technology, Member Programs and Services, and Membership Committees) Ad Hoc Committees Five committees (i.e., Deferred Compensation Advisory Committee, NACo Financial Services Center Advisory Committee, Arts and Culture Commission, Geospatial Information Systems Committee, and Green Government Advisory Board) The application is available online at www.naco.org. Click on About NACo>Committees and Caucuses>Presidential Appointment. Application deadline: June 4, 2010. If you have any questions please contact Mary Jane Neiman, CCAO Public Relations Associate, at (614) 220-7979 or mjneiman@ccao.org. 2010-11 NACo STEERING COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS The nomination process for membership on NACo policy steering committees in 2010-11 is underway. As a NACo steering committee member, you are responsible for debating and creating national policies and priorities affecting counties and serve on NACo s front line in their grassroots efforts. Committees meet at the NACo Legislative and Annual Conferences and one other time during the year. You will be responsible for your own travel. Attendance and participation in the committee is important. NACo has eleven steering committees: Agriculture & Rural Affairs; Community & Economic Development; Environment, Energy & Land Use; Finance & Intergovernmental Relations; Health; Human Services & Education; Justice & Public Safety; Labor & Employment; Public Lands; Telecommunications & Technology; and Transportation. To serve on a Steering Committee, your county must be a member of NACo. CCAO processes all nominations for Ohio public officials before being sent to NACo. If you would like to serve on a NACo committee for 2009-10, please respond by Friday, June 11, 2010. Nominations will be approved by the incoming NACo President after the NACo Annual Conference, which will be held July 16-20, 2010 in Washoe County (Reno), Nevada. NACo will announce your appointment in September 2010. For more information about NACo Steering Committees please contact Mary Jane Neiman, CCAO Public Relations Associate, at (614) 220-7979, (888) 757-1904 or mjneiman@ccao.org. 6
NACo 75 th ANNUAL CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION The National Association of Counties (NACo) and Washoe County (Reno), Nevada invite you to join over 2,000 appointed and elected officials from across the nation this summer for the anniversary-sized NACo 75 th Annual Conference & Exposition to be held July 16-20 at the Reno/Sparks Convention Center. This is the only national conference and exposition dedicated solely to county government. Conference registration is now open! Register for the conference and housing online at www.naco.org to save $25 per registrant. Click on the article about the conference on the front page. The early bird discount is available until June 4. Hotel rooms are only available at the Grand Sierra Resort. For more information, please contact Mary Jane Neiman, CCAO Public Relations Associate, at (614) 220-7979, (888) 757-1904 or mjneiman@ccao.org. WEBINARS OZONE WEBINAR SERIES APRIL 28 In January 2010, the U.S. EPA issued a proposed rule that would lower the primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone from the current standard of 75 parts per million (PPM) to between 60 and 70 PPM. This standard was just reduced in 2008. If the new 2010 standards are enacted, EPA estimates the cost of national compliance at $19-$90 billion. The Buckeye Energy Forum in conjunction with America s Energy Forum is hosting a series of webinars to bring local leaders up to speed on this use and to discuss the impact to your communities. The first webinar was held on April 14. The next webinar to discuss EPA s proposed implementation plans for these new regulations, potential penalties for non-compliance and the local economic impacts will be held on April 28, 2010 from 1:00-1:30 p.m. Please click here to pre-register www1.gotomeeting.com/register/905830304 Following is a link to the April 14 webinar presentation slides: www.americasenergyforum.com/pdf/ozonewebinarmasterslides041410_forrelease.pdf. Following is a link to a recording of the webinar: www1.gotomeeting.com/register/992223177. This website www.buckeyeenergyforum.com contains additional state-specific information about EPA s proposed ozone regulations and other energy issues related to Ohio. Please click on the site's "Contact Us" button if you have further questions or comments. CONFERENCES/SEMINARS MOVING AHEAD: SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Fifty years ago, a gallon of gas cost.32 cents. Windshield cleaning was free. Life has changed drastically in the last half-century and with all the challenges facing transportation today, the real revolution in sustainable mobility lies ahead. That s why leaders from the White House, Airbus, Honda, Ford, Norfolk Southern, and many more will be joining a national dialogue on transportation at The Ohio State University, Ohio Union Conference Center, 1739 North High Street, in Columbus on May 2-4, 2010. It s a chance to tackle tough questions, such as: Who will emerge as the sustainable transportation powerhouse India, Europe or the U.S.? Can alternative energy cars save the U.S. automotive industry? What really is clean energy when it comes to our transportation systems and how should it best be used? 7
Registration fee: $295 industry or $195 non-profit/government. Whether wanting to learn the latest in logistics, plug-in vehicles or smart sustainable communities, you need to know where America will go next. For more information go to MovingAhead2010.com. CLASSIFIEDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Greene County Children Services, a progressive, accredited child welfare agency, is seeking an Executive Director. This is an unclassified, fiduciary position that directs and supervises a staff of 108, who provide family assessment and support services and temporary & permanent child placement through foster care, adoption, group home and independent living programs. Minimum qualifications include a Master s degree with at least seven years of experience in children services or other human services related field and at least three years of senior management experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. LSW/LISW or licensure eligibility preferred. Competitive wage and benefit package commensurate with experience. Deadline for applications: May 14, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. Submit completed applications to the Greene County Personnel Dept., 105 E. Market St., in Xenia, OH 45385. Applications are available at the Personnel Dept., or can be printed from www.co.greene.oh.us. EOE. DIRECTOR The Board of Medina County Commissioners seeks a Director for its Office for Older Adults to provide programming and services to the County s senior population. The director is responsible for preparation and oversight of an annual operating budget and the delivery of social service and nutritional programs under Title III-B and C of the Older Americans Act. The ideal candidate will possess a minimum of a Bachelor s Degree from an accredited four year college or university with a major area of concentration in community services, social services, aging or health related programs, combined with a minimum of five years experience in a midmanagement level position involving the administration of social services programs, senior citizens programs, nutrition programs or recreation programs. Grant writing experience is expected. This is a full time position offering an attractive benefit package. Salary range is $45 to $55k, commensurate with experience. Submit resume and salary requirements, along with the names, addresses and phone numbers of three professional references, to Human Resources Department, Rm. 206, Attn. OOA, 144 N. Broadway, Medina, Ohio 44256. No third party reps accepted. Learn more about Medina County at www.medinaco.org. Résumés accepted until filled. EOE OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR The Greene County Sanitary Engineering Wastewater Treatment Department seeks an operations supervisor. Supervises staff; inspects process units to insure proper maintenance & optimum operating efficiency to satisfy regulations mandated by Federal & Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies (EPA); inspects grounds & buildings to assess needs & assigns workforce to perform those tasks; participates in formulation of operating policies & their adherence; analyzes data from various sources (e.g., operator s input, laboratory analysis, process monitoring equipment, perceptual evaluation) to assess plant performance, process needs & necessary changes to process; stores accumulated data in a readily accessible manner; reports collected data 8
to Manager; schedules & reinforces employee safety training; Assists with division budgetary control; Performs miscellaneous emergency duties to assist in maintaining services under all conditions. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS / LICENSING: High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.) and three years of related maintenance and repair experience; or, any combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties as listed above. Must possess a current Ohio Wastewater Operator Class III license, and obtain a Class IV license within three years of hire. Valid Ohio driver s license required. Application deadline: May 5, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. Completed Greene County applications are to be submitted to the Greene County Personnel Department, located at 105 East Market Street, Xenia, 45385. EOE. CLASSIFIED ADS CCAO publishes the County Information and Data Service (CIDS) weekly. Classified ads will be published free of charge as a service to counties. Ads will run for two weeks if space is available. Ads will also be published on the CCAO website at www.ccao.org. When submitting your ad to CCAO please provide a link to the job posting online and a deadline. Please provide a copy of the classified ad by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday of each week. Transmit the copy to Mary Jane Neiman, CCAO Public Relations Associate, by e-mail at mjneiman@ccao.org 9
Census Takers Start Knocking May 1 MAKING SURE 100% OF OHIOANS ARE COUNTED Starting May 1, residents who have not returned their form by April 16 will be visited by a Census Bureau employee, called an enumerator or census taker, to collect the information in person. This process will take place until the end of July 2010. The Census Bureau has been hiring and training enumerators who will work within their own community. Contact your Local Census Office to ask if they still need donated training space or have job openings. Click here for a list of Ohio LCOs. Contact local law enforcement agencies to include and prepare them for this effort. Residents may call the Detroit Regional Census Center to confirm that the census taker is employed by the Census Bureau: (313) 396-5200. Communicate to residents that they are required to answer questions asked by the census taker for their entire household. Residents will be approached up to 6 times during various times of the day. Census takers will never ask to enter a resident s home. All census takers carry official government badges Ohioans with their name. Residents may ask for a picture ID not counted from another source to confirm their identity. Some 26% census takers might carry a 'U. S. Census Workers' bag. 74% Ohioans counted Inform residents in your community who do not speak English or prefer to answer in their native language that census takers will have a flashcard with a sentence in 50 languages they will then receive a visit from a census taker who speaks that language. Highlight the importance of filling out the form during daily meetings, services, or events every resident must be counted to ensure services they may rely on continue to exist or are improved over the next ten years. Census takers will only ask what is on the form 10 questions. Make sure families you know are including their children when they answer 2010 Census questions children have historically be undercounted because they spend time at multiple locations during the week. Reassure them that their information is private and confidential the census taker who collects their information is sworn for life to protect their answers and faces a fine up to $250,000 or imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both if they share that information.