Post-meeting release 6/29/23

Commissioners present proclamation to aspiring Eagle Scout for impactful community project

[Tiffin, OH – June 29, 2023] — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation Thursday morning for Charles Knight, known as “Odin” by family and friends, for successfully completing his Eagle Scout Project.
Commissioner Bill Frankart, accompanied by Knight’s family and friends, met with the aspiring Eagle Scout on Thursday afternoon at the Seneca County Dog Warden’s Office to see the project and honor his remarkable achievement. Knight is just a few Eagle Scout merit badges away from earning the prestigious rank.
Knight’s Eagle Scout Project involved the construction of a large donation box at the Dog Warden’s Office, which serves as a pet pantry for members of the community facing financial hardships. The box is designed to house essential items such as food, leashes, collars and toys for dogs, cats and other small animals. The initiative aims to prevent pet surrenders and abandonment by providing temporary support to pet owners who may be struggling to afford essential supplies.
Knight said he was motivated to work on the project through his love of animals. He said he spent about 23 hours working on constructing the project, with some additional assistance from some of his peers.
Kelly Marker, Seneca County Dog Warden, collaborated closely with Knight on the project.
Marker said the donation box is available 24/7 for anyone to give or take what they need. She also said Knight worked on a donation drive and the box, which is shaped like a dog house, is already stocked.
According to the proclamation, the board recognizes Charles Knight’s journey towards achieving the rank of Eagle Scout as a testament to his unwavering commitment, leadership and dedication to the principles of scouting. Knight’s accomplishments reflect his exceptional understanding of the importance of serving others and his remarkable leadership skills. His success in completing his Eagle Scout Project serves as an inspiration to others in the community.
“We are proud to commend Charles Knight for his outstanding dedication to scouting, his invaluable contributions to our community and for setting an example for others to follow,” stated the Commissioners in the proclamation. They expressed confidence that the skills and values Knight has cultivated through his scouting journey will continue to guide him towards achieving his future aspirations, including attending the Naval Academy and becoming a pilot.
In other action, the commissioners received two sealed bids for the Seneca County EMS Station project.
The engineer’s estimate for the project totaled $1,032,900, which includes a $44,000 estimate for the installation of a generator, which is an alternate on the project.
Bids were received from:
1. Clouse Construction Company, of New Riegel, for $1,140,966, including an alternate of $55,996
2. Alvada Construction, of Findlay, for $1,561,000, including an alternate of $72,000

The station will be situated on the east side of Bloom Township and is the first of multiple stations planned to enhance the response time of Seneca County EMS personnel. The commissioners acquired approximately 3 acres of land on US 224 in Bloom Township for this project in March 2022, at a cost of approximately $52,500. In February 2022, the board allocated up to $750,000 for the construction of the new EMS facility. The station will accommodate both paid and volunteer Seneca County EMS staff, improving emergency medical service coverage for county residents and those within the SCEMS coverage area. The joint ambulance district, which approved a 2.5-mill levy in November, collaborates closely with the county to provide emergency medical services to rural areas lacking coverage from other agencies. The levy’s passage enables the JAD and SCEMS to employ additional paid personnel alongside existing staff and volunteers.
Also during the session, the commissioners reviewed their upcoming board meeting schedule, which includes cancelations on July 6th and July 27th.
In new business, the board approved all financial matters and resolutions from the agenda.