Post-meeting release 1/30

Commissioners hear an annual update from Seneca County Dog Warden

[Tiffin, OH Jan. 30, 2020] – Seneca County Dog Warden Kelly Marker recapped 2019 and gave some insight on what to expect from her office this year during the commissioners’ meeting Thursday morning.
Marker said her office had 282 reports last year. She said 163 dogs were brought in, with 73 returned to their owners, 63 adopted and 28 euthanized.
She said about 9,783 dog licenses were sold last year, but she hopes to license even more dogs in 2020.
Dog licenses can be purchased at the Seneca County Auditor’s Office and come in various increments. The licenses are legally required and could help you reunite with your dog if it gets lost.
Marker, who has been with the office for about 16 years, said 21 citations were issued by her office last year.
She said her goals for 2020 are to attend two state Dog Warden Association meetings and to continue improving the office’s relationship with local law enforcement entities.
Marker said dogs can be adopted from her office and she encouraged the public to reach out to learn more. If you are interested in adopting or have questions about you can call the dog warden’s office (419) 448-5097. Since these dogs are strays, the office is unsure of the past shot history. Spaying/neutering and all basic shots are recommended. All dogs are available for adoption for $30 which includes a 2020 Ohio Dog License.
In other action, the commissioners discussed correspondence received by the office from the Ohio Department of Transportation regarding a request the board made on Jan. 16.
The commissioners sent a letter to ODOT asking the agency to re-evaluate the dangerous intersection at US 224 and SR 67.
In the response letter, the spokesman from ODOT states that a study will occur this spring which will consider the most recent five years of crash data, traffic volume data, a turn-lane analysis and alternate forms of traffic control.
The goal of the study is to “identify and implement cost‐effective countermeasures which will reduce the frequency and severity of crashes.”
The commissioners are to be notified when the study is completed.
Also during the meeting, Thompson Township Trustee Kevin Oney read a resolution approved by his board of trustees that expresses opposition to the Republic Wind project and any other industrial wind turbine projects.
In other action, the commissioners changed the time of their Feb. 6 meeting to 4 p.m.
Agenda topics for the meeting are still pending, but the board expects to reflect on 2019 accomplishments and hear from county judges.

During new business, the board approved:
* A $50,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Special Projects Fund.
* A $20,257 supplemental appropriation to the Targeted Community Alternatives to Prison Grant Fund for contract services.
* A $1,110.68 supplemental appropriation to the County Sewer District Fund to the Transfers Out Line.
* A $27.60 supplemental appropriation to the Allen Eiry Special Guardianship Fund for hospitalization.
* A contract with the Huron County Board of Commissioners for the receipt, custody and care of Huron County juveniles on behalf of the Seneca County Youth Center for 2020.
* Appointing David LaRocco as a special prosecutor on behalf of the Seneca County Prosecutor.
* Setting 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 27 at the commissioners’ office as the time to receive sealed bids for a 64-passenger yellow school bus on behalf of the Seneca County Opportunity Center.
* Setting 10:15 a.m. on Feb. 27 at the commissioners’ office as the time to receive sealed bids for a one-year farm lease on county-owned agricultural land in Eden Township. In April of last year, the roughly 147 acres of farmland was leased to Wise Farms for $225 an acre for one year.
* Authorizing the fiscal year 2020 Federal Aviation Administration Airport Improvement Program pre-application for land acquisition of 37.5 acres at the county airport.