Pre-meeting release for 2/11 session

Commissioners to hear update from Tiffin-Seneca United Way Thursday morning

[Tiffin, OH Feb. 9, 2020] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday for a regular board session.
The commissioners are encouraging residents to join them in the online meeting through the application Zoom. To maintain maximum accessibility, the meeting will be recorded, archived and streamed live through Zoom. Residents can join the meeting by computer or mobile device at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92595230790?pwd=c0d1cVJ0MVY4RXUwSERweXo4SnE2QT09.
Residents also can download the Zoom meeting app and join with meeting ID 925 9523 0790. The passcode for the meeting is 453802. Those who would rather call in and listen to the audio of the meeting can dial (646) 558-8656 and use the meeting ID and then enter the passcode.
The meeting also is to be streamed on Facebook on the Seneca County Commissioners page.
At about 10:15 a.m., Kari Steele, executive director of the Tiffin-Seneca United Way, is expected to update the board on a collaborative CARES Act program. Steele was named director of the United Way on April 15 of last year.
In October, the commissioners made $1.25 million of its federal CARES Act funding available to several community agencies, in an effort to get funding directly to those in the county who were negatively impacted by COVID-19.
Tiffin-Seneca United Way was joined by Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, Fostoria Economic Development Corporation and Great Lakes Community Action Partnership to administer programs that helped to distribute these funds.
The United Way was allocated $250,000, and Steele is expected to discuss how funding was used to assist Seneca County citizens in dealing with the negative ramifications of the pandemic.
During old business, the board is expected to discuss indigent counsel reimbursement from the state. Due to a recent state supreme court decision, certain probate cases will now be eligible for indigent counsel reimbursement. The commissioners must update the county’s indigent defense counsel hourly rates and fees schedule to comply with the change.
In other action, the commissioners are to discuss county-owned agricultural land in Eden Township.
On March 26th last year, the board accepted a bid and entered into a one-year agreement with Fred Schoen to farm the roughly 147 acres of county-owned land. Schoen, of Republic, bid $288.50 per acre. The board is expected to discuss the soon-expiring lease and could decide what to do next with the land.

During new business, the board is to consider:
* A $10,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund for other expenses.
* A $20,631.90 supplemental appropriation to the DRETAC Fund for other expenses.
* A $20,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund for indigent counsel, related to the previously mentioned change to reimbursable cases in the county probate court.
* $98,490 and $160,000 fund transfers from the General Fund to the Soil and Water Fund.
* Establishing the Impaired Driving Enforcement Program, the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program and the Drugged Driving Enforcement Program on behalf of the sheriff’s office.
* Setting time, date and pace to receive sealed bids for the CR 56 and CR 38 superstructure replacement (prestressed box beams).
* The fiscal year 2021 Airport Improvement Program pre-application for airfield drainage improvements and Taxiway”C” pavement rehab at the county airport.
* The fiscal year 2022-2031 Airport Capital Improvement Plan.