Post-meeting Release

Seneca Regional Chamber provides updates at Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting

By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator

Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Bryce Riggs, and Marisa Stephens, who serves as Director of Marketing for the chamber and Destination Seneca County, stopped by the March 28 Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting to provide updates on the upcoming Seneca County Bicentennial celebration and the Seneca County Solar Eclipse of the Heart event.

Riggs sad the 2024 Seneca County Community guides will be distributed starting on Monday, April 1. An online version is available on the Destination Seneca County website.

Eclipse events include the Out of the Dark Glow 5K & Fun Run, the East Green Concert Series and Elope at the Eclipse. Riggs said 146 couples will travel over 16,000 miles to get married in Tiffin during the eclipse, and over 200 people have registered for the 5K. They are coming from several states, including Oklahoma and Wisconsin.

“I want to thank everyone who is helping, including the photographers, TPS Food Service, Handshoe Cakes and Cookies and Kendra’s Cakes,” Riggs said. “We’re trying to make this a great experience for everyone.”

Stephens said the Seneca County Bicentennial will kick off at the Seneca County Museum on Monday, April 1, at 10 a.m. The event will include a brief history of the county, proclamations from dignitaries and tours of the museum.

“We’re super excited, and this will also launch the Secrets of Seneca County Historical Driving Tour. It has 19 different stops across the county,” Stephens said.

Stephens announced that Be a Tourist in Your Own Town will return on April 19-21. On that weekend, residents can enjoy free admission to most museums and galleries in the county.

“I want to thank the commissioners for providing funding for the bicentennial,” Stephens said. “We absolutely love promoting our county. Thank you for helping to make that possible.”

During the commissioners’ reports, Commissioners Bill Frankart and Tyler Shuff talked about the many meetings and events they attended this week, including the Seneca County Lions Club Reverse Raffle that benefitted Project Lifesaver, Bakery Bingo at the Seneca County Opportunity Center, and a Downtown Development Committee meeting.

“It’s amazing what a great community we live in. The Opportunity Center gymnasium was full during Bakery Bingo,” Commissioner Frankart said.

During her report, Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson said flooring renovations at the RTA building are progressing well. Patterson received a card this week from St. Paul United Methodist Church expressing gratitude to Seneca County Deputy Greg Smith and his jail work crew for the volunteer work they recently did at the church. Patterson said the work they did included painting and installing flooring.

“I want to give kudos to Deputy Greg Smith and the Seneca County jail crew. They do a lot in the community,” Shuff said.

Patterson also announced that there will be no commissioners’ meeting on Thursday, April 18.

During the commissioners’ meeting, two bid openings were held, one for box beams and one for the CR34/CR38 Pavement Widening/Resurfacing project.