Pre-meeting release for 5/2 session

Commissioners to hear update from county elections panel
Discussing the joint countywide comprehensive plan also on agenda

[Tiffin, OH April 30, 2019] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at its office, 111 Madison St.
Seneca County Board of Elections personnel are to visit the meeting to update the commissioners on the upcoming May 7 Primary Election.
The election will mark the first usage of new, state-of-the-art voting machines purchased in January.
The machines cost about $1,065,000 with an annual price of about $16,000 in years 2-5. In year six, an additional yearly fee, which could be about $60,000, is likely.
The board previously set aside about $500,000 for the machines and the state is to contribute $648,392 to the purchase.
The machines were purchased from Election Systems and Software, of Nebraska. The new voting equipment will streamline and speed up the election voting and tabulation processes while maintaining security.
Only about a quarter of precincts in the county will get to test out the new machines however because in some precincts there are no races or issues.
There are 13 precincts and 10 voting locations that are to be open on May 7. Also, voters from Adams and Pleasant Township only will vote if they are in the Clyde-Green Springs School District.
The following precincts do have races or issues to weigh in on, and thus will be able to vote in the primary:
Fostoria 1-A, Fostoria 1-B, Fostoria 3-A, Fostoria 3-B, Fostoria 4-A, Fostoria 4-B, Tiffin 2-A, Tiffin 2-B, Tiffin 2-C, Green Springs Village, Adams Township, Pleasant Township and Attica Village.
The board of elections personnel also are expected to discuss general preparations for the upcoming primary.
In other business, the board is to discuss the joint countywide comprehensive plan that is currently being created.
Development of the plan kicked off in March 2018 and includes the commissioners, the city of Tiffin, Fostoria Economic Development Corp. and the Seneca County Park District.
Seneca Regional Planning Commission is to cover about $60,429 of the $120,000 plan. The city of Tiffin is to add $34,200, with Fostoria Economic Development Corp. contributing $10,000 and the Seneca County Park District pitching in up to $19,000. The board is to chip in about $15,000 for the project.
The plan is to include strategies for housing, commercial and industrial development, education, transportation, parks and recreation, and arts and culture. The funding difference between the cities is because Tiffin asked for more variables in the plan.
CT Consultants is the contractor that is designing the plan, which is expected to be complete later this year.
Also during the meeting, the board is expected to discuss the county law library board.