Pre-meeting release 10/22

Commissioners to discuss several justice center requests Tuesday
An update on the County Services Building restroom upgrade project also expected

[Tiffin, OH Oct. 19, 2018] – Seneca County Commissioners are to meet at 10 a.m. Tuesday at their office, 111 Madison St.
The board is expected to hear four requests for changes at the Seneca County Justice Center.
Each of the judges residing in the building is to request space for evidence storage in the former space of the title office. That area also contains a new data center/server room and an area where county clerk of courts records are stored. The judges would like to use the additional space in that area.
The county clerk of courts office also is to request the area that holds records receive more security.
Another request is to add lighting to the magistrate’s courtrooms and to improve the soundproofing on the fourth floor.
In other business, Seneca Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Charlene Watkins is to update the board on a restroom enhancement project at the County Services Building. The project, which is funded through the Community Development Block Grant program, would make the first-floor restrooms in the building Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
The project was bid out but did not receive any offers. The state has now allowed the county to ask for quotes on the project.
In other action, commissioners are to consider intervening in sPower’s Seneca Wind Project.
Seneca Wind is a proposed 200-megawatt wind farm that will be located across the townships of Scipio, Reed, Venice, Eden and Bloom. The project will be built on approximately 25,000 acres of privately-leased land and will utilize as many as 85 turbines.
Formally intervening in the Ohio Power Siting Board process would allow the county to be involved in the adjudicatory hearing about the project held in Columbus.
The county already has become an intervener in the process for APEX’s Republic Wind Project. The county did not intervene for or against the APEX project but decided to intervene as an interested party.
According to the Ohio Power Siting Board, intervention grants individuals, organizations and governments the right to participate as a party of record in the case proceedings. Interveners are served with all documents in the case and participate in the adjudicatory hearing held in Columbus.
The adjudicatory hearing held in Columbus is only for those who have formally intervened. There also is to be a local public hearing, where those who have not intervened are able to participate. At the local public meeting hosted by the OPSB, members of the public provide sworn testimony that becomes part of the case record considered by the OPSB. For more information, visit https://www.opsb.ohio.gov/opsb/index.cfm/information/public-participation/
The county must decide if it will intervene by Nov. 17.
Also during the meeting, an executive session is scheduled to discuss personnel.
During appropriations, the board is to consider:
* A $5,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund to pay for the services of the county’s Ohio State University extension agricultural agent for the rest of 2018.
* A $36,000 fund advance from the General Fund to The Wolf Creek Petition Ditch Fund.
* The disposal of a 2000 GMC van on behalf of CROSSWAEH. The van was sold for $200.