Post-meeting release 8/25/22

Commissioners continue investment into capital project priorities Thursday

[Tiffin, OH – Aug. 25, 2022] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners received an update from County Administrator Stacy Wilson Thursday morning on work being done on capital projects.
In March, county administrative staff presented a list of about 35 prioritized capital project requests to the commissioners. The list was created after County Administrator Stacy Wilson and County Building & Grounds Maintenance Supervisor John Logsdon presented 114 project requests to the commissioners earlier in the year.
Of the 114, 68 had price estimates equaling more than $15 million.
The board previously agreed to move forward with the top 10 projects on the list, including the top priority, the construction of a new Agricultural Services Building.
On Thursday, the board focused on a couple of additional projects that were not on that list, including the approval of a roofing repair project at the Seneca County Jail. The cost of the project is about $45,000.
Logsdon said the project includes a silicon roof sealant product that extends the warranty of the roof for 10 years. Logsdon also said a similar project is necessary at the Seneca County Justice Center Annex. County officials are seeking a quote for that work, but the belief is that the cost should be similar to the project at the jail.
The commissioners agreed to move forward with the two roofing projects with money that is already available in the Capital Projects Fund.
The county accrues almost $100,000 annually into the capital fund via lease payments from various departments and organizations.
Also during the capital projects discussion, the commissioners agreed to move forward with purchasing digital radio equipment for emergency personnel in the county. The update from analog to digital communications follows the same move recently made in the cities of Tiffin and Fostoria. The initial cost estimate for the new equipment is about $87,000, but an updated quote is likely necessary before the purchase can be made. County Administrator Stacy Wilson said some of the equipment could take as long as a year to be available.
In other action, the commissioners congratulated the Seneca County Opportunity Center for cutting the ribbon Wednesday on the county’s first all-abilities playground at Opportunity Park.
Commissioner Tyler Shuff thanked the many organizations that collaborated on the project, and also thanked former Commissioner Shayne Thomas for his work several years ago in advocating for the project and requesting state capital budget money.
Ohio Capital Budget funds provided $200,000 for the $465,000 project.
In other business, Shuff told the commissioners that he is working on the details to try and bring a façade enhancement program to the county.
The program as Shuff envisions it would be similar to the city of Tiffin’s downtown facade enhancement program.
The city’s program, which was launched in 2014, provides a 50 percent match of funds for eligible exterior improvements on residential and commercial structures within the downtown historic district for up to $10,000.
Shuff said he’s forming a committee to iron out further details, but he hopes that funds can be used to assist businesses in Fostoria, Tiffin and in the villages and township. He said businesses in Seneca County not currently eligible under other façade programs would be covered by the county’s program.
In new business, the board approved all appropriations and resolutions from the meeting agenda.