Post-meeting Release, August 1, 2024
Seneca County Apiary Inspector talks bees at commissioners’ meeting
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
Seneca County Apiary Inspector Barrett Zimmerman attended the Aug. 1 Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting to talk about his efforts to support local beekeepers and help keep bees healthy. Zimmerman was hired as the county’s apiary inspector this year.
There are about 90 apiaries and 700 colonies in Seneca County. The Ohio Department of Agriculture requires that all apiaries register with the state, and Zimmerman encourages beekeepers to register for the protection of their bees. Unless they opt out by signing a no consent form, registered apiaries in the county are inspected by Zimmerman, who looks for disease and pests that could damage or destroy a colony.
The importance of Zimmerman’s work became startlingly apparent when he discovered American Foulbrood (AFB), the most dangerous disease threat to bee colonies, in Seneca County this week. AFB is caused by spore-forming bacteria that can live 70 years. There is no cure, and the disease can only be managed by burning the colony.
“It’s really scary. It’s the most deadly disease,” Zimmerman said. “If we didn’t have an inspector, we wouldn’t have found it.”
By the end of October, Zimmerman will have visited and inspected the 700 colonies in the county. The commissioners were surprised to learn about the scope of the apiary inspector job. After hearing Zimmerman’s report, the commissioners voted to increase the annual stipend for the apiary inspector from $1,300 to a maximum of $5,000.
“This is way more involved than I thought,” Commissioner Bill Frankart said.
Information on registering apiaries can be found at https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/plant-health/apiary-program/registration/registration. For information on bee inspections in Seneca County or to schedule Barrett Zimmerman to speak about beekeeping to groups, call 419-618-0254. For more information on Zimmerman’s work, visit https://senecacountyohio.gov/barrett-zimmerman-is-saving-seneca-countys-bee-population-one-hive-at-a-time/.
In other business, the commissioners scheduled a bid opening for the CDBG PY24 City of Fostoria ADA Compliance and Site Updates Project, but no bids were submitted.
The commissioners voted to incorporate with the Lucas, Ottawa and Wood Counties Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) through the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments (TMACOG) commencing in 2025. The county’s involvement will not cost the county money and will open the door for greater grant opportunities. The commissioners were encouraged to make the move by Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership (TSEP) staff because of the potential financial benefits it could bring to the county. TSEP Development Coordinator Adam Gillmor, who attended the commissioners meeting, thanked the commissioners for the decision.
“This will open us up to economic development administration funding,” Gillmor said.
During her weekly report, Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson reminded the public that the Attica Fair kicks off with an opening ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m., and the Tiffin Historic Trust Tea on Aug. 24 at noon will feature Seneca County bicentennial trivia. The tea will be held at the Grammes Brown House located at 172 Jefferson St. in Tiffin. For reservations, call 419-448-0370.
The commissioners approved 36 resolutions and passed two resolutions during the meeting.
The Seneca County Commissioners honor the long, colorful history of Seneca County, which celebrates its 200th birthday in 2024.