Hello, Hamilton County

  E-News for Hamilton County Citizens and Employees

June 19, 2002
  Quote of the Week:  "Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak."  ~ Thomas Carlyle ~
 

Hamilton County Flag Unveiled on Flag Day

Hamilton County raised its new flag at an event on Flag Day this past Friday.  The event was held on the Courthouse steps and included a brief ceremony and the raising of the new Hamilton County flag by County Commissioners.  The County is also displaying the other entries received, many of which came from local children, in the lobby of the County Administration Building (138 E. Court Street). 
Hamilton County resident Justin Green displays the County's new flag.
  The County flag design was selected from 95 entries from local artists and students.  The flag development process was a partnership between Hamilton County and ArtWorks, a local non-profit that provides training and opportunities in the arts for local youth.  ArtWorks sought entries from local schools, the general public and its own network of local artists.  A panel consisting of County officials, citizens, and ArtWorks staff helped select three finalists and the final design.

The design was created by Justin Green of Oakley.  The flag features a red "H", trimmed in green symbolizing Hamilton County.  The H is encircled by an "O" representative of Ohio.  Hamilton County's 12 townships are symbolized by the curves of the circular motif.  The flag includes 37 stars representing the 21 cities and 16 villages of Hamilton County.  

The County Flag will be displayed at County facilities and will be displayed along with other County flags at the state capital as part of the State's Bicentennial celebration.

 
  Roberts named Assistant Director of Job and Family Services
 
Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services (HCJFS) Director Suzanne Burke announced on June 10, the appointment of Rick Roberts as assistant agency director. Roberts, a long-time Ohio Department of Job and Family Services manager who began his career in Hamilton County, starts his new job June 20. "I am really pleased to have someone of Rick’s caliber joining the agency’s management team," Burke says. "He has a unique blend of experience at both the state and county levels. He is highly regarded throughout the region. He’s going to be a great manager here."

Roberts began his career as a caseworker in the old Lincoln Heights satellite office. He held a variety of positions in Hamilton and Butler counties before moving to the State 16 years ago. He most recently served as regional account manager for three years. He was the primary liaison between ODJFS and county human services, children services and child support agencies.

Roberts added that he’s "excited about going back to the local level. It’s where the services are provided and you can get involved with the community more."

 

 

Before that, he was an assistant bureau chief responsible for assisting in the managing of program technical staff throughout the state. It’s like coming home again," Roberts says. "I still know a lot of staff in Hamilton County. I’m really excited about working with Suzanne. I value her leadership style. We share that style--one that focuses on valuing every employee as well as our customers and communicating openly with them."

Seventy people applied for the position. A selection committee invited 11 to initial interviews. The committee included Burke, section chief Jim Ashmore, overpayment specialist Gina Carr, team leader Melissa Graves and support specialist Vanessa Nichols.

It was difficult to choose just one, but Rick stood out because of his experience, contacts at the state level, knowledge of best practices at other counties, and open management style." The assistant director will be responsible for most IM and Workforce Development functions as well as fraud, intake/paternity and special collection initiatives.

 
 

 
  Collection System Modeling Symposium
 

This August, a symposium will be held in downtown Cincinnati to bring together professionals, educators, and community leaders from around the world to share their experience and ideas. 

The symposium is designed around the following topical areas as they relate to collections system modeling:
 

 

*  owners’ perspectives on model application objectives and approaches andin-house maintenance and use of models

*   real time control modeling

*   model training- what works and what doesn’t

*   the current state of the are modeling software

*   the rapid evolution of modeling technology and where we go from here

For more information contact Maria Turner at 513-557-7137.

 
   
  Environmental Services Hosts International Visitor
 

The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services hosted an international visitor on Monday, May 20, 2002.  Tymofiy Zusmanovych, from the Ukraine, visited Cincinnati environmental organizations through a program called Community Connections.  Community Connections links businesses from different nations to encourage the learning of business practices and managerial skills in other cultures. 
 
Mr. Zusmanovych is the Chief Engineer of the Engineering Industrial Enterprise (EIE), Energoochistka, Ltd, in the Ukraine.  EIE is a private firm that works to improve the ecological situation in the Ukraine by monitoring and preventing air pollution as well as waste pollution, and conducting scientific research.  Mr. Zusmanovych participated in the Community Connections program to learn about American business management, and to use this knowledge to change the managerial structure of his firm. 
 

Mr. Zusmanovych met with Ken Edgell, Environmental Administrative Coordinator, and Sarah Brugger, Public Affairs Coordinator, for the Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services.  The three discussed the mission of the Hamilton County agency, and also the differences between environmental practices and procedures in the U.S. and the Ukraine.

During his visit to Cincinnati, Mr. Zusmanovych also met with the City of Cincinnati Office of Environmental Management, toured Cinergy and participated in a Solid Waste Management Class at Cincinnati State.  While touring these facilities, he discussed environmental issues such as alternative fuels and waste management.

 
   
  Employee of the Year Profile:  Jay Springer
  Employee of the year Jay Springer is a graphic and data management specialist with the Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission.  A 21-year employee of Hamilton County, Mr. Springer is responsible for meeting coordination, event organization, assists with public relations efforts and the creation of graphics and artwork for various publications.  Jay is a key member of the team developing the comprehensive plan (Community COMPASS). 
 
  He has coordinated community forums and helped organize the Countywide Town Meeting held in January 2002.  Mr. Springer also coordinates the annual Frank F. Ferris Planning award program.  Through this event, the Regional Planning Commission recognizes private business, group, and local government efforts that demonstrate excellence in planning and community contribution.  Jay’s service to the community extends well beyond his work with Hamilton County.  He is a long-time volunteer for Juvenile Diabetes, March of Dimes, Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Opera, and People Working Cooperatively.
   

2002 Computer Recycling Event

 
The Hamilton County Department of Environmental Services held its free Computer Recycling Collection event for county businesses and schools on June 13th and 14th.   Old PC workstations, monitors, scanners, and other peripherals were collected and sent to Computers for Education Program of Ohio (CEPO).  Using inmate labor provided by Ohio Penal Industries (OPI), computers will be remanufactured and sold at a low cost to Ohio schools.  Equipment that cannot be reused, will be de-manufactured and sent to United States recyclers.

 
  This years event was a great success with over 13 trailers of recycled computer products collected compared to the 7 trailers from last year.  The event gives area schools and businesses a free opportunity to dispose of their electronic waste in an environmentally responsible way while diverting tons of potentially hazardous material from local landfills.  

 
   
 
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Have a great day!

 
 
Hello, Hamilton County is published twice each month.  It is placed on both the County's internal and external Web pages.  It is designed to enlighten and inform both citizens and employees of Hamilton County.  If you have questions or suggestions for future editions, contact Erica Binford (946-4324), Sharon Booker (946-4428) or Eric Stuckey (946-4432) in the County Administrator's Office or e-mail to eric.stuckey@hamilton-co.org.