Butler County Commissioners approve ARPA funds, hear from community at Butler County Fair

The Butler County Board of Commissioners presented certificates of recognition to the fair queen Emma Puckett and king Brayden Kidd at the July 22 meeting, held on-site at the Butler County fairgrounds.

"I want to show that anyone can do anything in 4-H," Puckett said. "... I was the first in my family to do this, so I just wanted to show everybody out there that they can jump in and do whatever they want."

The commissioners also awarded Scott and Stacey McCoy certificates for being active in 4-H for 20 years.

"This is a proclamation from the commissioners and actually the highest honor we've ever given," Commissioner Carpenter said to the McCoys.

Administrator Judi Boyko presented a resolution to the board asking them to determine whether to proceed with submitting to the electors the question of an additional mental health and addiction recovery services tax levy.

The board previously passed a resolution declaring the levy's necessity on July 1, and on July 8 the auditor certified the amounts of the proposed retax levy.

Later in the meeting, Boyko said the Executive Director of Butler County Veterans Mike Farmer asked if the commissioners would accept gifts, donations or devises on behalf of the Butler County Veterans Commission. The Veterans Commission is not allowed to receive gifts directly.

The prosecuting attorney has approved the idea. According to the agenda, the Butler County Auditor would create a general fund as a way to operate, perform and conduct community engagement events and programs aimed at the reduction of veteran suicides or other veteran services.

The commissioners approved both resolutions.

The board also approved for the Oxford Township Board of Trustees to distribute the $150,000 American Rescue Plan Act funds to the underserved in Oxford township including Oxford Seniors and Talawanda Oxford Pantry and Social Services. The funds take affect July 23.

At the end of the discussions, Carpenter addressed special members in the audience.

"In addition to the regular officials, we have some people here today who really make things work well for our rural communities across Butler County," she said. "People think of us as a population, 393,000 as an urban county, but a significant part of the county is rural."

Carpenter recognized Tim Hesselbrock from the Butler County Farm Bureau, members of the Butler County Fair Board and more.

During public comment, more than five people spoke to the board on topics ranging from congratulating the Fair Board on its accomplishments to promoting new businesses.

Ohio Senator George Lang stood up and talked about how he was moved after hearing the fair queen say she joined 4-H to show people she can do whatever she wants in life.

"The values you learn from 4-H are what Butler County stands for, and it's what American stands for," Lang said.

The Butler County Commissioners' next weekly meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m. July 29 in the Butler County Government Services building, 315 High St.