Post-meeting release 6/8/23

Commissioners hear an annual report from GLCAP Thursday morning

[Tiffin, OH – June 8, 2023] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners received an update from Great Lakes Community Action Partnership personnel and spoke with a family who has been impacted by the organization’s services Thursday morning.
RuthAnn House, GLCAP President and CEO, introduced some members from her team and thanked the commissioners for their support of May as Community Action Month.
“We are blessed to serve the residents in your county,” she said.
Commissioner Tyler Shuff thanked House and her team for all they do in the community.
“Your organization does a lot of good for a lot of people,” he said.
House introduced Andrea Hickle and her sons, two-year-old son Phoenix and two-month-old Bexley. Hickle said she has another son who is in the Head Start Program in Fostoria.
Head Start early childhood centers provide care and preschool services for young children. Children in the program attend classes Monday through Thursday during the school year. Centers provide a daily meal and snack along with hands-on activities. Children are provided with medical, mental health, nutrition and dental services.
Hickle said the program has been very helpful to her family.
“I love, love, love GLCAP,” she said.
According to information provided by GLCAP, 161 children in Seneca County were engaged in Head Start and Early Head Start center-based and home-based programs in 2022. Several other statistics were provided to the commissioners, including that 1,123 households received energy or water utility assistance, or were set up with affordable payment plans to better manage home utilities expenses in 2022. There were also 308 households helped with utility, mortgage and rent assistance for COVID-19-related financial hardships last year.
In other action, the commissioners announced June 29th at 10:05 a.m. to open bids for EMS Station #1 to be located on the east side of the county on US 224.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said the initial scheduling for this bid opening was rescinded and rescheduled so more time could be given to finalize details about the project.
“I think pausing and having a little extra time was beneficial to all parties,” he said. “We are back on track. We are excited,” he said, adding that the commissioners hope the building can be constructed by the end of the year.
County Administrator Barb Patterson said a pre-bid conference is scheduled at the site of the new building on June 20th at 9 a.m. The station is to be located near 9428 E. US 224.
Also during the meeting, the board approved the vacation of a section of TR 138.
County Engineer Mark Zimmerman explained that the culvert was once owned by a railroad company. He recommended the commissioners vacate the structure and any interest they have in it.
He said no citizens in the area expressed any opposition to the vacation. A viewing was held at 9:15 a.m. Thursday.
During new business the board approved:
* A $1,000 supplemental appropriation to the Concealed Handgun Licenses for equipment.
* A -$2,656.87 correction to the EPA On-Lot Septic System for a loan payment.
* Establishing the Sandusky County General Health District – Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Grant Fund on behalf of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties.
* Setting June 29th at 10:05 a.m. at the commissioners’ office to receive sealed bids for the Seneca County EMS Station #1.
* Setting July 13th at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ office to receive sealed statements of qualifications for energy conservation and facility improvement projects.
*Authorizing an agreement with the Village of New Riegel on behalf of the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office.
* Affirming Seneca County’s due diligence to provide for equal housing opportunity and affirmatively further fair housing in the county.
* Approving the projects and amounts for the Community Development Block Grant Program Year 2023 Community Development Program and submitting the application and all related documents to the state.
* Establishing the purpose and use of the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund.
* The commitment of leverage funds from the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund Program for Program Year 2023 through the CDBG Program.