Post-meeting release 10/27/22

Commissioners discuss upcoming Veteran of the Year event, schedule budget discussions

[Tiffin, OH – Oct. 27, 2022] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners invited members of the public to celebrate local veterans at the annual Veteran of the Year Dinner on Nov. 10th.
Commissioner Tyler Shuff said he and his colleagues always look forward to attending the event, which is hosted by the Seneca County Veterans Services Commission.
He said that this year, U.S. Army Veteran Gregory Cole is to be honored during the dinner that kicks off at 5 p.m. on Nov. 10 at the Green Springs VFW. A brief program is slated to start at 6 p.m. to honor Cole.
Members of the public can call (419) 618-1584 if they’d like to purchase a $10 ticket to the event, which includes dinner.
Cole served in the Army from January 1967 to August 1969. After his military service, he has been and continues to be a staple in the community as a public servant through various organizations.
The commissioners are to present a proclamation to Cole at the Nov. 10 event.
In other action, Commissioner Anthony Paradiso told the public that staff members are working hard on 2023 budgets and he outlined the upcoming schedule for the rest of the year.
Budget hearings will become a routine portion of board meetings in the next two months, starting on Nov. 3.
Regular board sessions are scheduled for:
• November 3rd at 10 a.m.
• November 10th at 10 a.m.
• November 17th at 10 a.m.
• November 22nd at 10 a.m.
Paradiso said the commissioners hope to approve a budget by the Dec. 1st board meeting.
During public comment, Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership President and CEO Aaron Montz gave an update to the board about the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy process.
Paradiso said he is excited about the process, which is being guided by Bowling Green State University personnel and had a kickoff meeting last week.
“I am really impressed (so far),” he said.
Montz said generally a plan like this is renewed every five years, but the last one was completed in Seneca County in 2011.
He said since the plan must be regional, TSEP has partnered with Sandusky County.
Montz said the process could take until late 2023 or early 2024 to be completed, but he said it will be very valuable and will guide economic development strategies for the following five years.
He said he was amazed by some of the data that has already been unearthed after just one meeting. For example, he said that about 16,000 people live in Seneca County but travel outside of the county for work. Conversely, only about 8,000 people from outside of the county travel here for work.
Montz also added that about 14 percent of Seneca County residents don’t have internet access and about 10 percent do not have a cell phone. He also added that wages lag behind surrounding counties.
Montz said the hope is that a joint district can be formed among northwest Ohio counties to become eligible for federal funding for economic development initiatives.
The commissioners paid 25 percent of the cost of the study, while the city of Tiffin also paid 25 percent and Sandusky County handled the other half. The county’s share was about $7,500, Montz said.
In new business, the board approved all resolutions and budget adjustments from the meeting agenda.