Pre-meeting release for 1/21 session

Commissioners to hear update from Great Lakes Community Action Partnership

[Tiffin, OH Jan. 19, 2020] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday for the first board session of 2021.
The commissioners are encouraging residents to join them in the online meeting through the application Zoom. To maintain maximum accessibility, the meeting will be recorded, archived and streamed live through Zoom. Residents can join the meeting by computer or mobile device at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/92595230790?pwd=c0d1cVJ0MVY4RXUwSERweXo4SnE2QT09.
Residents also can download the Zoom meeting app and join with meeting ID 925 9523 0790. The passcode for the meeting is 453802. Those who would rather call in and listen to the audio of the meeting can dial (646) 558-8656 and use the meeting ID and then enter the passcode.
The meeting also is to be streamed on Facebook on the Seneca County Commissioners page.
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership President/CEO Ruthann House is expected to address the board. House is scheduled to provide an annual update from the organization and will also report on the successes of a collaborative program between her agency and the county to assist county residents with federal CARES Act money.
The commissioners allocated $250,000 to GLCAP through the program to assist those in the community negatively impacted by COVID-19. Programs offered by the entity included assistance programs for rent/mortgage, utilities and food.
In December, House told the commissioners that GLCAP was doing “extremely well” in serving people with the CARES Act funds. She said she would present a more detailed report this year when that information is available.
In other action, Seneca Regional Planning Commissioner Executive Director Charlene Watkins is scheduled to meet with the board to discuss sewer billing.
Also during the meeting, the commissioners are to discuss the potential creation of a county Human Resources department.
In 2020, the commissioners began to set aside funds for the creation of this department, but the timeline was moved back because of the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The commissioners allocated about $116,000 in the 2021 budget for the creation of an HR department.
In April 2019, the commissioners spoke with former Tiffin University Vice President for Human Resources and Campus Services Lori Hall regarding an assessment of the current system of HR that the county uses. Hall said many people work within their primary job and also take on HR tasks. She said the strengths of the current system included department leaders being well-trained and innovative. As for areas of improvement, she said there is not a lot of structure because of the decentralized nature of the system. She recommended that the county hire an HR director who could centralize the system and become the point person for all HR-related tasks.
Some of the benefits of creating a centralized HR department for the county include minimizing liability and adding structure for employees.
During new business, the board is to consider:
* Certifying the 2020 county highway system mileage certificate.
* Re-appointing Stephanie Little and Kenneth Estep to the facility governing board for CROSSWAEH for three-year terms.