Post-meeting Release

Seneca County Commissioners honor Jayne Goshe

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

The Seneca County Commissioners honored Jayne Goshe during the Jan. 25 commissioners’ meeting for 32 years of faithful employment with the Seneca County Department of Jobs & Family Services (JFS). Goshe began with JFS in 1991 and will retire on Feb. 29. During those years, Goshe held many duties, ending her service as a Social Services Specialist – Child Care.

Commissioner Tyler Shuff read a proclamation to Goshe that shared the commissioners’ “heartfelt thanks for a job well done.” JFS Administrator Terri Frankart and JFS Supervisor Elaine Cook attended the meeting to help honor Goshe.

Suzanne Black and Pamela Faber of Seneca County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Seneca County Water Rescue Team Director, John Meisner, were special guests at the commissioners’ meeting. Meisner talked to the commissioners about tentative plans to construct a storage building near the EMA building at the Seneca County Fairgrounds. The building would store CERT and Water Rescue Team equipment, including a truck, inflatable boat, aluminum boat and enclosed equipment trailer, as well as small equipment. The equipment is currently stored in various locations around the county.

“We’re seeking the Seneca County Commissioners’ support for a proposal aimed at solving long-term storage needs,” Meisner said. “We’re sort of couch surfing as far as storing our equipment.”

Black provided an overview of CERT, which is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that trains volunteers to assist in emergency situations. Faber talked about a possible grant opportunity that would fund the building. The organization should receive news on the grant’s status in May.

“Hopefully it will see us through Phase One, and we’ll also do community fundraising,” Faber said.

The commissioners voiced support for the project, which is in the early planning stages while the group awaits answers on funding.

“It’s a glove fit for the county,” Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said.

Seneca County EMA Director John Spahr, who also attended the meeting, talked about the strong collaboration between Seneca County EMA, CERT and Seneca Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). Spahr applauded Seneca County CERT for its work in the county.

“Seneca County CERT is recognized by the state as one of the most active, working CERTS in the state,” Spahr said.

In other business, Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson opened seven bids for lease of farmland in Eden Township.

The commissioners attended several meetings and events in the last week. Commissioner Paradiso attended the Vanguard-Sentinel Career & Technology Centers annual stakeholders meeting, where the group discussed, among other issues, a future public safety academy. The academy will help fill a need for First Responders in the county.

“This is great for all of us,” Paradiso said.

Commissioner Bill Frankart attended an OSU Extension meeting where he learned about youth events planned for 2024.

“They really do a lot of good at OSU,” Commissioner Frankart said.

The commissioners announced that temporary parking changes have been made at the RTA Building to accommodate expected additional traffic from local residents visiting the building to address tax bills. The commissioners worked in cooperation with Seneca County Auditor Julie A. Adkins and Seneca County Treasurer Paul Harrison to temporarily reserve four 15-minute parking spots.

The Seneca County Commissioners will hold a special meeting, much of which will be spent in executive session to discuss a personnel contract, on Wednesday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m. The regular commissioners’ meeting will be held on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 10 a.m.