Post-meeting release 2/23/23

Commissioners meet with new Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager Thursday

[Tiffin, OH – Feb. 23, 2023] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners met with the new Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager Thursday morning during a board session.
On Feb. 13, Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership announced that Donna Gross was selected to take the position. Gross is the second Main Street Manager in Downtown Tiffin history, following the departure of long-time manager Amy Reinhart.
Gross is a successful entrepreneur, owning her own small business, Relevé Barre Studio, with locations in Downtown Tiffin and Birmingham, Michigan. In addition, she serves on numerous downtown boards and committees including serving as co-chair of the successful Kris Kringle Markt this past December. Gross is a graduate of Heidelberg University with degrees in Business Administration and Public Relations and currently teaches there as an adjunct professor.
Commissioner Tyler Shuff was on the hiring committee that chose Gross.
TSEP President and CEO Aaron Montz said Gross was chosen out of a field of 17 “very good” candidates.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said the commissioners were happy to welcome Gross into her new role and he said the commissioners historically have shown great support for TSEP, Fostoria Economic Development Corp. and the Downtown Tiffin organization.
In other action, Rachel Ruffer, Regional Liasion for the Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, addressed the board.
Ruffer provided a legislative update to the board and shared several compliments for the Seneca County Board of Elections.
“(They) do a tremendous job and I wanted to publicly thank them,” she said.
Before the meeting, Commissioner Bill Frankart mentioned former Seneca County Commissioner Tim Berlekamp and Seneca Conservation District Team Leader Beth Diesch in his prayer. Berlekamp passed away on Feb. 12th and Diesch passed away on Feb. 18.
“We pray and send our goodwill to their families,” Frankart said.
Also during the session, Shuff remarked about his excitement in moving forward with SafeBUILT, as they work to take on commercial permitting and inspections in the county.
He said he is happy to keep funding local, and he believes the company will streamline the process and make things more efficient for local businesses.
County Administrator Jaime Wolfe said work is being completed for the organization to take on all commercial permitting and inspections in the near future.
In new business, the commissioners approved all appropriations and resolutions from the pre-meeting release.