Seneca County townships gather for annual meeting

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

The Seneca County Township Association held its annual meeting at the Green Springs VFW on March 14 in conjunction with Seneca County Engineer Mark Zimmerman. Representatives from every county township and several county departments attended the meeting, including Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart and Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson.

Zimmerman gave an overview of his office’s various projects for 2024, including work that will address culverts, signs and a proposed roundabout CR 592 and SR 12. The project is currently within a 60-day state-mandated comment period, and Zimmerman anticipates the roundabout to be completed in about two years.

“In the right location, roundabouts save lives,” he said.

County Engineer’s Office employees Jason Kirgis and Dave Kin provided updates on county projects. Kirgis said the department will address eight bridges throughout the county in 2024. Kin provided information on five projects that will be funded by $2.5 million in grant money.

The projects include guardrail improvements at 21 bridges; a CR 62 bridge replacement in Pleasant Township; the widening of CR 34 and CR 38; a pavement marker project that will widen edge lines on about 20 miles of road; and the replacement of about 1,200 signs throughout the county.

“Nobody in the State of Ohio does what we do with what we have,” Zimmerman said. “I’m honored to have these two running our bridge program.”

Amy Hoffman, an Energy Consultant with Palmer Energy Company in Toledo, was a special guest at the meeting. Hoffman shared information on a proposed resolution on the March 19 ballot that would grant Adams Township the authority to aggregate the retail electric loads in the township. If passed, Toledo Edison and AEP customers in Adams Township could gain significant savings on their electric bills.

“It’s an opt-out program,” Hoffman said. “It’s not for North Central customers, but they need to vote.”

Although the program does not affect North Central Electric Cooperative customers, who already receive savings through the co-op, they can help their neighbors save money on their electric bills by voting yes on the resolution.

Commissioner Frankart was glad to be a part of the meeting.

“I really enjoy going to the County Township Association meeting. It’s always great to catch up on what is happening around the county,” he said. “Mark Zimmerman did a great job updating us on all the road and bridge projects going on in the county.”