The Knox County Commissioners presented a proclamation to Scott Boone, director of Knox County Job and Family Services, on May 16, 2023, recognizing May as Foster Care Month. Pictured are, from left, Commissioners Bill Pursel and Teresa Bemiller, Boone, and Commissioner Thom Collier.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County IT Communications Coordinator
The county commissioners declared May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Pictured are, from left, Commissioner Bill Pursel, Emily Morrison of Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties, and Commissioners Teresa Bemiller and Thom Collier.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County IT Communications Coordinator
The Knox County Commissioners presented a proclamation to Scott Boone, director of Knox County Job and Family Services, on May 16, 2023, recognizing May as Foster Care Month. Pictured are, from left, Commissioners Bill Pursel and Teresa Bemiller, Boone, and Commissioner Thom Collier.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County IT Communications Coordinator
MOUNT VERNON — Rick Meeker, Ohio District 5 Area on Aging, and Scott Boone, director of Knox County Job & Family Services, updated the county commissioners on Thursday about the partnership between JFS and the AOA for adult protective services.
Both agreed the partnership continues to yield positive results.
In 2022, the AOA had 290 total referrals. Of those, 157 were for self-neglect and 85 involved exploitation.
“We want that number to increase because we believe that number is under reported,” Meeker, community living manager for AOA, said.
AOA has one full-time person dedicated to Knox County. Meeker said Knox County's numbers are increasing, and AOA has three other staff members to help.
“Housing was a huge need still,” Meeker said of the referrals AOA handled.
Area on Aging works with local agencies such as The Main Place, The Station Break, and Centerburg Senior Services for socialization opportunities. Knox Area Transit, Kno-Ho-Co-Ashland, and CES Credit Union have partnered with AOA on transportation, financial, and other services.
AOA also provided Knox County individuals with home repair, plumbing, personal care and home-making assistance.
“Sometimes there's this myth that Area on Aging is going to come in and remove the person from their home,” Meeker said. “We legally can't do that. It's called kidnapping. We're here to be a resource.”
Meeker said that based on numbers thus far this year, Area on Aging is on par to handle 306 referrals in 2023.
JFS first contracted out its case management for adult protective services to the Ohio Area on Aging in 2019.
Knox Area Transit
On May 17, the city's Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance for the parking canopy accessory structure for the new KAT vehicle maintenance building at 601 W. Chestnut St.
On Thursday, the commissioners approved an application for real estate property tax exemption on four parcels associated with the new transit facility:
•Parcel #66-01281.000 — 601 W. Chestnut St., 2.213 acres
•Parcel #66-09538.000 — 7 N. Norton St., 0.41 acre
•Parcel #66-09538.001 —503 W. High St., .568 acre)
The county commissioners declared May 2023 as Mental Health Awareness Month. Pictured are, from left, Commissioner Bill Pursel, Emily Morrison of Mental Health and Recovery for Licking and Knox Counties, and Commissioners Teresa Bemiller and Thom Collier.
Andrew Champlin, Knox County IT Communications Coordinator
Legislative action
The commissioners conducted the following legislative actions the week of May 15:
•Held a bid opening on the Knox County Courthouse cupola and exterior renovation project: Quality Masonry submitted a bid of $821,000; Mid State submitted a bid of $940,000. Engineer's estimate was $630,000. Both bids are above the 10% allowable margin. MKC Architects will review the bids and project specs.
•Held a bid opening for the county sewer building addition: Schrock submitted a bid of $433,568; Modern Builders submitted a bid of $437,888. The engineer's estimate was $400,000.
•Approved advertisement for bids for Coffing Road bridge replacement
•Approve request for amendment for engineering design services with DLZ/Lawhon and Associates for Beckley Road bridge replacement
•Approved contractor agreement between Knox County Department of Job and Family Services and Madyson Ratliff for Summer Youth Job Coach activities
•Approved transportation contract between Knox County Department of Job and Family Services and Knox Area Transit for the Summer Youth Program Transportation
•Approved Memorandum of Understanding between Knox County Department of Job and Family Services and Northeast Ohio Adoption Services for Child Focused Recruitment Activities
