Pre-meeting release 1/7

Commissioners to re-organize, discuss upcoming treasurer appointment

[Tiffin, OH Jan. 7, 2019] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at its office, 111 Madison St, for the annual reorganizational meeting.
At the meeting, the board could decide to elect a new president and vice president. Commissioner Mike Kerschner served as president last year, while Commissioner Holly Stacy served as VP. The meeting also could include changes to committee assignments for 2019.
Each commissioner served on 12 committees or boards in 2018. Examples of committees the commissioners serve on include: the District Health Advisory Board, the Ottawa-Sandusky-Seneca Solid Waste District, the Seneca Regional Planning Commission Board, the Land Bank Board, the Children and Family First board and the Tiffin Area Chamber of Commerce Board.
In other business, the board is expected to discuss appointing an interim Seneca County Treasurer.
Damon Alt, the current treasurer, is leaving the position to become magistrate for Seneca County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Kelbley on Feb. 1.
The commissioners must make an appointment to the position by Jan. 31. The appointed person will serve in the role for a short amount of time, however, as the Seneca County Republican Party can then nominate a candidate to finish Alt’s term. The final appointee’s term would expire Sept. 5, 2021.
GOP officials are expected to discuss the appointment during a meeting scheduled for Feb. 7.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners will continue their discussion on the potential purchase of upgraded voting machines on behalf of Seneca County Board of Elections.
The machines are an expected expense for this year; the board set aside about $500,000 for the purchase. The state, which mandated the equipment upgrade, also is to contribute about $640,000 for the machines. The cost is expected to be about $1,065,000 with an annual price of about $16,000 in years 2-5. In year six, an additional yearly fee, which could be about $60,000 is likely.
The machines the county are considering will streamline and speed up the election tabulation process while maintaining security. A decision is likely to occur this month.
In other action, the board will consider its contract with the county sewer district. The commissioners discuss and approve the agreement annually.

During appropriations, the board is to consider:
* A $9,590 fund advance from the General Fund to the Wolf Creek Petition Ditch Fund.
* The expenditure of funds for supplies for snow removal, emergencies and meetings held by the Seneca County Engineer.
* Designating County Engineer Mark Zimmerman as the authorized agent to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation Purchasing Program.
* Authorizing Zimmerman to prepare and submit an application to participate in the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Programs and to execute contracts as required for Issue 1 – Round 34 for the county.
* Several other 2019 appropriation adjustments.