Post-meeting Release, June 20, 2024
Seneca County Commissioners hear update from Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
The Seneca County Commissioners participated in the annual joint ditch hearing with Huron County Commissioners on June 20. The brief meeting was held prior to the regular Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting, when Seneca County Sheriff Fredrick Stevens presented his 2023 annual report.
The sheriff walked the commissioners through the comprehensive report, which is available on the sheriff’s website at www.senecacountyso.org under the Annual Reports link. Among the information in the report is the sheriff’s bio, sheriff’s office mission and values, and a list of Seneca County Sheriffs from 1824 to the present. The report addresses the impact of every department in his office.
Among the 2023 stats the sheriff provided were:
- 16,540 calls for service
- 910 traffic crashes
- 518 warrants served
- 1,835 civil papers received
- 59,329 miles traveled
- 17 personnel hires
“Thanks to things put in place by the commissioners and county administrator, this is the first time since I have been in this position that things have been positive rather than negative in new hires,” Stevens said.
Stevens said the jail’s kitchen and medical departments received no complaints during 2023 inspections when inspectors spoke anonymously with inmates.
“The ladies in the kitchen take pride in the cleanliness of the kitchen and passing inspections,” Stevens said. “By paying attention to those individual departments and giving them the tools they need, we are way ahead of the liability game.”
Since taking office, Stevens has been proactive in addressing mental health needs of people served by his office, whether in the jail or in the community. In 2022-2023, the sheriff’s office partnered with the Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Ottawa, Sandusky & Wyandot Counties (MHRSB) and Firelands Counseling and Recovery Services to bring a 32-hour-a-week case manager and eight-hours-a-week licensed therapist to the jail.
Through a partnership with MHRSB in July of 2023, the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), comprised of trained citizens, began providing services to people in a drug or alcohol related crisis.
“MCRT stepped into the void. What they’ve done for law enforcement has been incredible,” Stevens said.
Stevens completed a study of county traffic crashes, which have risen drastically over the past decade, and determined that almost half of the crashes involved impacts with deer. Stevens plans to present the statistics to local Ohio Department of Natural Resources staff to inquire about the possibility of addressing the problem with higher bag limits during the fall hunting season.
In other business, no bids were presented for the virtual attorney visitation room project at the Seneca County Jail because no local contractors had room in their schedules for the work. Stevens said he will work to establish a timeline that will be feasible for potential contractors.
The commissioners approved two supplemental appropriations and passed three resolutions, including a resolution accepting a bid from K.D.H. Construction, LLC, for renovations to the Bettsville EMS building.
Commissioner Anthony Paradiso shared the good news that the Seneca County Fair and Attica Independent Fair each received over $106,000 in grant money through Ohio’s County and Independent Fair Grant Program. The grant was announced this week by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lt. Governor Jon Husted, Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. The locally received money was part of a statewide distribution of $10 million in grants to support Ohio fairgrounds and enhance experiences for fairgoers.
Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart said that the Seneca County Family and Children First Council will host Family Fest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hedges Boyer Park on Saturday, June 22. The free event will feature inflatables, crafts and resource tables.
Seneca County Administrator Barb Patterson said that the Seneca Radio Club will host Field Day at Meadowbrook Park in Bascom on June 22 and 23. For more information, visit the W8ID Seneca Radio Club Facebook page.
The next regular Seneca County Commissioners’ meeting will be held on Thursday, June 27 at 10 a.m
The Seneca County Commissioners celebrate the long, colorful history of Seneca County, which celebrates its 200th birthday in 2024.