Post-meeting release 2/7
Commissioners hear from Job and Family Services, CASA Thursday
Also approve contract with Fostoria Economic Development Corp.
[Tiffin, OH Feb. 7, 2019] – Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services Director Kathy Oliver presented an annual report to the commissioners Tuesday morning.
Oliver provided statistics and other data related to protective services.
She said the department works to investigate allegations of child abuse and neglect, works with families to ensure child safety, collaborates with law enforcement during criminal investigations, petitions courts for orders of protection and/or removal from home and works with Foster Care families, among other duties.
Oliver’s report states there were 56 children in Kinship Care in 2018, which was the same figure as 2017. Kinship care refers to the care of children by relatives or family. In 2018, 25 children were in agency custody, up from 17 in 2017.
You can view the full report here.
Also during the meeting, Dean Keller, president of Court Appointed Special Advocates of Seneca, Sandusky and Ottawa Counties, gave some information about his organization and introduced some members of his team.
Michelle Miller, communications and fundraising coordinator for the group, said many people don’t know what CASA is or what they do.
The organization does important work advocating for children in the court system. Miller said advocates help to take care of any needs the child has. Last year in Seneca County, 50 children were advocated for, in 2017 there were 47 children advocated for and in 2016 there were 46.
The organization relies on volunteers and offers training twice a year. Training includes 30 hours of instruction, with half of it online. The next training session is in April. For more information about CASA, visit their social media page or call their office (419) 448-1442.
In other action, the board approved a contract with Fostoria Economic Development Corp. The commissioners also are working to finalize a contract with Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. The contracts specify the duties and responsibilities of each agency. The FEDC contract is through 2021.
In other business, the board agreed to move forward in the process of using recycling grant money from the Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca Solid Waste Management District to rebuild the drive at the county cemetery. The project would use recycled materials and early estimates for the project are about $78,000. The grant funding is worth about $85,000. The project would improve the cemetery and would also tie into a larger active transportation plan pathway.
The board also voted 2-1, with Commissioner Shayne Thomas dissenting, to spend $2,000 on an appraisal review for property at Seneca County Airport. The county already has committed about $4,500 to two separate appraisals. If the county eventually purchases the property, the Federal Aviation Administration would reimburse 90 percent of the appraisal, the appraisal review and the project cost.
During County Administrator Stacy Wilson’s report, she said the county’s carryover is about $2.2 million.
During appropriations, the commissioners approved all legislation from yesterday’s release.
The 2009 Crown Victoria was sold for $925 and the 2007 Crown Victoria was sold for $625.