Post-meeting release 8/24/23

Commissioners send off Sharon George, thank her for decades of public service

[Tiffin, OH – Aug. 24, 2023] — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners thanked Sharon George for her service to the community during a board session Thursday morning.
George, who serves as Executive Director for Family and Children First Council, will leave her position after her final day Friday.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said when he first became a commissioner, the FCFC Committee was one of his first meetings.
My eyes were opened at all the things that you do, and how you’ve brought all these departments together, and how much need there is in the county and how much support there is in the county,” he said. “I appreciate your service and your impact you’ve made on the county. You’re leaving it in a better place.”
Throughout her tenure, George passionately collaborated with community partners, identifying service gaps and pioneering programs that have bolstered families and children in Seneca County and beyond. Her leadership has led to significant growth in services and programs, including teen pregnancy prevention, service coordination, Help Me Grow, poverty simulators, and numerous others.
Under her guidance, the Council’s budget has expanded to $2.1 million annually, a testament to her commitment to enhancing resources for the community. Beyond her professional accomplishments, George’s collaborative nature, visionary drive and dedication to youth and families have earned her deep appreciation from Council members and community leaders alike.
Each of the commissioners wished George well in the future.
“I am incredibly grateful and honored,” George said, adding that she is confident in the great team that will continue on the work that has occurred over the past two decades.
In other business, Seneca County Emergency Management Agency Administrator John Spahr provided an update on concerning weather issues this week.
He said different areas of the county had between three and seven inches of rain in a short amount of time Wednesday night and into early Thursday morning, adding that the area is still under a flash flood warning and rock creek rises.
Spahr said there were about 1,000 power outages, with most expected to be restored by early afternoon on Thursday.
He said the biggest impact from the storm was the washing out of five homeless families at a campground. Spahr said he’s working with the Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army and the Seneca County Homelessness Coalition to find resources for those families.
Spahr also reminded residents not to drive through standing water and said that a cooling station is available at the Seneca County Public Safety Building, 126 Hopewell Ave., on an as-needed basis. The building has WIFI, electricity and air conditioning for those in need during the excessive heat Thursday.
In other action, the commissioners banned wildlife hunting on county property.
County Administrator Barb Patterson said several applications had been received asking for permission to hunt on the property.
Paradiso said in the past few years, there have been an increased number of requests. He said after speaking with the sheriff, he decided that safety and liability issues make it so that he does not support permitting wildlife hunting on county property.
Patterson added that CORSA, the County Risk-Sharing Authority, was opposed to allowing hunting on county property due to the liability issues raised.
In new business, all budget adjustments and resolutions from the pre-meeting agenda were approved.