Post-meeting release 10/30

Commissioners recognize AmeriCorps group, get 2019 budget update
Board also receives the latest draft of potential TSEP contract

[Tiffin, OH Oct. 29, 2018] – The Seneca County Commissioners recognized a partnership between the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps Tuesday and thanked AmeriCorps personnel for work completed in Seneca County.
The commissioners read a proclamation and presented it to the group for their work.
FELC was awarded an AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps federal grant, which provided a team of seven young adults to assist with conservation education work for Seneca County over the last seven weeks. The team, which was based out of Iowa, assisted FELC with the nature center’s new collaborative learning furniture install, new outdoor classroom install, trail signage and benches install, trail improvements and invasive species removals.
The group assisted within the Seneca County parks and helped with city of Tiffin parks as well.
Several grants helped to sponsor the group, including funding from the Mesech Frost Fund, the White Family Charitable Fund of the Tiffin Community Foundation and the Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca Joint Solid Waste District Competitive Grant.
Ronamina Davis, Asif Ali, Douglas Anderson, Jessica Williams, Matt Serivano, Jon Pridgeon and Kareen Garrison participated in the program. The seven are from all over the country and one is from Canada.
Commissioners Mike Kerschner and Holly Stacy expressed gratitude for the work done by the team.
In other action, County Administrator Stacy Wilson gave an update on the budget process.
Commissioners hope to have the budget approved in November this year, which is earlier than usual.
Wilson said she has received a budget from every department except one. She said most budgets were similar to last year’s requests, although a few departments asked for additional funding. The commissioners are to consider the funding requests and budget discussions are to continue next week.
Departments also are submitting long-term capital budget items which are to be considered by the board.
Wilson said it’s possible the county budget commission could certify revenue next Tuesday, which would allow the county to continue through the process. Revenue was about $17.5 million for the 2018 budget while expenses were about $16.8 million.
In other business, Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership President and CEO David Zak outlined a contract proposal for the economic development agency and the county that spells out services provided.
One proposal of note would be the addition of a Rural Development Manager to the TSEP staff to increase attention and economic development services for the rural areas of the county.
Zak said about 38 people applied for a vacant spot on the TSEP staff. He said he hopes to have a new person in place by Jan. 1 at the latest.
Renee Smith, president of Fostoria Economic Development Corp., also is filling a position within her agency. She said about 31 people applied and she also hopes to have the position filled by early next year.
In other news, the board changed the location of a Nov. 7 public meeting with several townships to the Scipio Township Maintenance Building. The 5:30 p.m. meeting is to discuss potential intervention in the Seneca Wind Project.
The board also has a special meeting at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Public Safety Building. The meeting is for the discussion of state ballot Issue 1.
In new business, the board approved all appropriations from yesterday’s release.