Post-meeting release 8/26/21

County airport to receive up to $1.2 million in grant funding for taxiway project

[Tiffin, OH – August 26, 2021] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners learned Thursday morning that the Seneca County Airport was rewarded as much as $1,230,416 in grant funding for the airport drainage/erosion control taxiway rehabilitation project.
The grant, which is funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, rehabilitates 3,682 feet of the existing taxiway to maintain the structural integrity of the pavement. It also includes the installation of 16,000 feet of edge drains to protect Runway 6/24 and the parallel taxiway pavements from deterioration to meet FAA design standards.
The announcement of the grant, which came from U.S. Senator Sherrod Browns’ office, increases the federal share of the grant to 100 percent. Initially, the county and state each would have covered five percent of the project cost.
Earlier this month, the county also received notice that the airport was awarded a $32,000 grant for costs related to operations, personnel, cleaning, sanitation, janitorial services, debt service payments and combating the spread of pathogens at the airport.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to allow Seneca County Museum Director Theresa Sullivan and Seneca Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Charlene Watkins to move forward with a grant application through the Ohio History Connection’s Bricks and Mortar Program.
The grant would help to fund stability and tuckpointing work at the museum’s carriage house. The museum is to apply for 60 percent of the project cost, not to exceed $20,000. Watkins said the Seneca County Barnes-Deinzer Museum Foundation would assist with the remaining costs.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso complimented Sullivan for her work at the museum, adding that he had received a nice note from a county resident with positive feedback. The museum is open from noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
Near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Tyler Shuff read a proclamation honoring Paul Shoemaker for the contributions he has made to the Tiffin Youth Football League.
The proclamation, which was signed by all three commissioners, officially makes the final weekend in August each year “Paul Shoemaker Tiffin Youth Football Weekend.”
This weekend was chosen because it is the kickoff to the league’s regular season.
The proclamation states that Shoemaker gave more than 30 years to the league, serving as a coach and as the commissioner.
“Shoemaker made a difference in the lives of thousands of young players, giving them the opportunity to play a great sport while also teaching them lessons in life. Shoemaker’s efforts have not only helped launch the career of many successful football players, but have also helped players become successful adults,” the proclamation reads.
Paradiso also read a proclamation recognizing September as Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
Also during the meeting, the board received two bids for the CROSSWAEH improvements project. The project has seven alternates. The bids were from Telamon (base bid of $156,499), of Sandusky; and Midwest Contracting (base bid of$139,800), of Holland.
CROSSWAEH officials are expected to review the bids before deciding on if they should move forward. This is the third time the project has been bid.
During new business, the board approved all resolutions and appropriations from the pre-meeting press release and also set Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. at the commissioners’ office for a public hearing on the potential alley vacation of a portion of Continental Street.