Post-meeting Release

Mircea Handru provides Recovery Services Board and OneOhio updates at commissioners’ meeting

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties Executive Director Mircea Handru provided an annual report at the Feb. 29 Seneca County Commissioners meeting, and he gave updates on OneOhio region 17. The OneOhio Recovery Foundation was created to distribute settlement funds received from the pharmaceutical industry. Handru is the representative for Seneca County on the Region 17 board and also represents Region 17 at the state level.

OneOhio funds must be used for substance misuse prevention, treatment and recovery efforts. Local organizations can apply for the grants beginning March 4.

“The first RFP (request for proposal) will be live on the OneOhio website on March 4,” Handru said.

Live and zoom grant application training sessions will be hosted locally, including an April 22 session that will be held at North Central Ohio Educational Service Center. For more information on OneOhio grants, visit www.oneohiofoundation.com/grants.

Handru said the Recovery Services Board will open two recovery homes in Seneca County this year. One will likely open within the next month.

“You do a fantastic job, especially running as many counties as you cover,” Commissioner Bill Frankart said.

Brian Crosier of Stantec Consulting Services also attended the meeting to open bids for the automatic weather station p/t replacement at the Seneca County Airport. About 95 percent of the project will be funded by an ODOT Office of Aviation grant.

Crosier said Stantec Consulting Services has assisted the airport on a number of projects, including taxiway resurfacing, property purchases and runway lighting. It is now assisting with a master plan to strategize for future upgrades that may include expanding the runway.

“It’s a long process. We’ll have public meetings and consultant selections,” Crosier.

Seneca County Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bryce Riggs also attended the commissioners’ meeting to provide updates on Solar Eclipse events. The chamber has been working for over a year to plan for the April 8 eclipse. There are over 20 events planned over the eclipse weekend, including Elope at the Eclipse. Over 200 couples have registered to get married at the East Green Amphitheater in Tiffin during the eclipse.

The commissioners were actively involved in the community this week, including attending meetings for EMS, the upcoming Seneca County Bicentennial celebration, and the Seneca County General Health District.

“Julie Richards really hit the ground running as the new health commissioner,” Commissioner Frankart said. “The health department is moving in a good direction.”

Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson publicly thanked longtime Advertiser-Tribune reporter Vicki Johnson for her competent coverage of county events. Johnson retires on March 1.

“I just would like to say thank you for all the writing she has done for us and for her support,” Administrator Patterson said. “She’s done a really nice job. Congratulations to her.”