Commissioners, GLCAP submit $4.9 million grant application for jail improvements
*** See the video recap at the bottom of the page!
[Tiffin, OH — July 29, 2021] — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners received notification from Great Lakes Community Action Partnership Thursday that the organization had submitted a grant application for nearly $5 million for Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and Jail renovations.
County Administrator Stacy Wilson informed the commissioners of the $4,928,279 grant request during a board meeting Thursday morning. The county’s match for the state-provided grant is $1,250,000.
If the county receives the grant, several major renovation projects would be funded at the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office and Jail. Projects that could be funded include upgrades to accessibility and security.
Wilson complimented GLCAP staff on a detailed and comprehensive grant application and told the commissioners that the organization is willing to partner on other grant-writing opportunities.
In other action, Wilson told the board that the Seneca County Board of Elections planned to use $18,664.80 of state grant funds to assist with the County Services Building wall, entrance and parking lot rebuild project. The project includes upgrading a pre-1865 wall of the building, including the entrance to the Seneca County General Health District. The elections board money will help fund a portion of the project that brings the parking lot into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The renovation project addresses safety and aims to the entrance into full compliance with the ADA.
The board has been considering the project for several years and entered into a contract with DLZ for engineering and architectural services for the project in June of 2019.
Also during the session, Wilson announced that the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services roof repair project is to begin on Aug. 2. Work is expected to last about one week. On June 3rd, the commissioners accepted a $303,042 bid from Damschroder Roofing, of Fremont, for the project.
Wilson also reminded the public that the next countywide EMS planning meeting is to be held in person at the North Central Ohio Educational Service Center, 928 W. Market St, at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5. Residents may also watch the meeting on Facebook Live, or with the following Zoom information:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92595230790?pwd=c0d1cVJ0MVY4RXUwSERweXo4SnE2QT09
Dial: (312) 626-6799
Meeting ID: 925 9523 0790
Passcode: 453802
In other news, Commissioner Anthony Paradiso read a proclamation for Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services employee Sheliah Rhine. Rhine began her career with the agency in August of 1991 and will retire on Aug. 1 as a fraud investigator.
Paradiso thanked Rhine for her 30 years of service at DJFS and wished her a happy retirement.
In new business, the board approved:
• A $10,000 supplemental appropriation to the Ambulance Service Fund for contract repairs.
• A $1,300 supplemental appropriation to the Ambulance Services Fund for equipment.
• A $25,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund for professional services.
• Recommending designation of the emergency planning committee for the county.
• Authorizing an agreement/contract between Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services and Adriel School, Inc., for 2021-2022 family preservation programming, retroactive to July 1, 2021.
• Accepting the bid and authorizing a contract with Transportation Equipment Sales Corp., of Oregon, for a seven-passenger, two-wheelchair van on behalf of the Seneca County Opportunity Center. The bid was for $55,697.