Corvac moves step closer in Greenfield

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Corvac Composites’ purchase of the RR Donnelley building in Greenfield is complete, bringing the whole project closer to fruition, commissioner Shane Wilkin said at Wednesday’s meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners.

“That puts us one step closer,” Wilkin said, to Corvac’s move to Highland County becoming a reality.

He said he received the information that the purchase was complete last Thursday in an email message from the company’s CFO.

As previously reported, commissioners announced in late June that a preliminary agreement had been reached with the auto industry supplier to purchase the Greenfield property that had sat vacant since RR Donnelley pulled up its stakes two years ago, taking more than 160 jobs with its exit.

About 200 jobs are anticipated with the arrival of the new employer in Greenfield.

On another matter, commissioners participated in a conference call with Clayton Henson of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted’s office in regard to online voter registration.

Commissioners said they received a letter from Husted’s office requesting the board’s endorsement on the matter, but as per discussion on Wednesday, board members are not so ready to give that endorsement.

Henson said during the call that Husted’s office is working with state legislators on the matter of online voter registration, which he said is not meant to replace the paper system.

He said one of the advantages to online registration is accessibility. But he said a “huge concern … is certainly” in regard to integrity of the registration.

Online voter registration requires five fields of information to be filled out, which is then immediately checked against Bureau of Motor Vehicles data, Henson said. Paper registration requires four fields of information be completed and is not subject to the “scrutiny” of the online format being checked against the BMV data.

Online registration, Henson said, would allow for a “greater number” of registrations to be better examined “as they go into the system.”

But commissioners questioned how the online format would prevent someone from registering in another’s name, like a “grandma who’s comatose,” Wilkin offered as an example.

Henson said since the online format is checked against BMV data— which includes a person’s citizenship status, Social Security number and address — that any information not matching up would mean the person trying to register online would be flagged and unable to proceed.

Henson indicated that while no system is infallible, the online format “certainly mitigates” the issues “that are out there.”

The legal ability to access the signature on a state ID card or driver’s license is also something that Henson said Husted’s office is seeking legislatively to further ensure the integrity of registration.

Online voter registration has been endorsed by 75 of Ohio’s 88 counties, Henson said, as well as by the County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO).

Wilkin requested a list from Henson of the more than two dozen states that Henson said have legislation in regard to online voter registration, later saying that he was “curious” to see how it was working out for those states.

Following the phone call, Wilkin said, “Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I think you ought to put a little effort into voting.” He said that because of the sacrifice of those who have ensured an American’s right to vote meant the very least a person could offer was some effort in engaging in the process.

Commissioners Jeff Duncan and Tom Horst were in agreement.

Also following the call, clerk Rhonda Smalley asked what would happen if there was a security breach like the one in 2014 with the U.S. Postal Service where information like names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and addresses of workers were compromised.

While Henson during the call offered his availability and that of an elections attorney if commissioners had any other questions, Wilkin said later that he might also contact the CCAO on the matter.

In other business, commissioners said they are awaiting quotes for the windows at the Hi-Tech Center. Horst said the rubber seals on the windows there have “shrunk up” and need to be replaced.

On a related matter, commissioners said word is awaited from the architect on the Hi-Tech project in regard to a new cement pad where the HVAC equipment will be placed. Also, that equipment has been ordered, Duncan said, and is expected to arrive next month.

Repairs and improvements on the building have been ongoing in recent months.

Finally, the Nov. 11 meeting of the Highland County Board of Commissioners will be held on Nov. 12 as the 11th is Veterans Day. Also, the county administration building will be closed on Nov. 27.

Reach Angela Shepherd at 937-393-3456, ext. 1681, or on Twitter @wordyshepherd.

Commissioners Tom Horst, right, Shane Wilkin, center, and Jeff Duncan are pictured during Wednesday’s meeting.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/33/2015/10/web1_28Oct2015commish.jpgCommissioners Tom Horst, right, Shane Wilkin, center, and Jeff Duncan are pictured during Wednesday’s meeting.
Commissioners not ready to endorse online voter registration

By Angela Shepherd

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