Post-meeting release 12/13

County received $38 in federal money for veterans for each dollar spent in ’18
Commissioners also receive more than $13,000 for work at the county museum

[Tiffin, OH Dec. 13, 2018] – The board heard an update from Tara Balliet, director of the Seneca County Veterans Services Office, Thursday morning.
Balliet said the office had a good year providing services to veterans. She said for every dollar invested by the county into veterans services, $38 of federal money was returned and used to help veterans locally.
Several Veterans Service Commission members also were present during the meeting. Commission VP Dave Young said the county now has about 3,800 veterans, down about 100 from last year.
In other action, Commissioner Mike Kerschner announced that $13,585 was donated by Barnes-Deinzer Seneca County Museum Foundation to the county to improve the museum. New electric wiring is a high-priority project that could be undertaken with the funding.
The foundation also donated about $6,000 for a project earlier this year, which included upgraded windows.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners established a schedule for the rest of the year. The board is to meet Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. and Thursday, Dec. 27 at 10 a.m.
Next year, the board is to continue meeting on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. in January. The first meeting on Jan. 8 is to be the re-organizational meeting, where committee assignments will be decided. Beginning in February, the commissioners plan to move meetings to Thursdays at 10 a.m.
In other business, Seneca County Board of Elections officials discussed an impending purchase of upgraded voting equipment with the commissioners.
The machines are an expense the county expects for 2019; commissioners set aside about $500,000 for the purchase. The state, which mandated the equipment upgrade, also is to contribute about $640,000 for the machines. The cost of the machines is expected to be about $1,065,000 with an annual price of about $16,000 in years 2-5. In year six, an additional yearly maintenance fee is likely. This could be about $60,000.
The voting machines will be ready in February and could be used in the May Primary Election. Elections panel officials told commissioners they need a decision on the purchase by about January 15. No decision was made.
All of the legislation from yesterday’s pre-meeting release was approved.