Pre-meeting release for 12/10 session

Commissioners to meet via Zoom Thursday, hear Chamber of Commerce update

[Tiffin, OH Dec. 8, 2020] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday.
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. Please note that this link and the following information has changed from previous meetings!
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 Live on the Seneca County Commissioners page.
At 9:30 a.m., the viewing of an alley in Loudon Township is to occur. The alley is under consideration to be vacated. A hearing also is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. to receive feedback on the proposed alley vacation. Visit our website for more information on this alley: https://senecacountyohio.gov/notices/.
At 10 a.m., Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services Executive Director Bryce Riggs is scheduled to join the meeting to give the commissioners an update.
At 10:30 a.m., representatives from Green Springs, Adams Township and Pleasant Township are expected to join the meeting to enter discussions with the county on the future of emergency medical services.
In May 2016, local elected officials in the northern part of the county chose to contract with the private ambulance service provider, North Central EMS. As a result, Seneca County EMS removed its ambulance from the Green Springs station at that time. The contract that Green Springs, Adams and Pleasant townships have with North Central EMS is due to expire in May of 2021, and discussion Thursday will center around how the political subdivisions will proceed with emergency medical service coverage.
During old business, the commissioners will continue the discussion on the 2021 budget. The board is also expected to address the Road Use and Maintenance Agreement with Republic Wind.
A RUMA is an agreement between local governments and private energy developers to repair and maintain roadways damaged or degraded by the traffic associated with energy extraction.
In September 2019, the commissioners tabled two resolutions that would have rescinded and replaced the 2016 RUMA to reflect that some townships had withdrawn from the agreement to negotiate their own. At the time, Commissioner Mike Kerschner and Commissioner Tony Paradiso made comments about wanting to make changes to the agreement, since the proposed industrial wind turbine projects for the county are large in scale.
“These are extraordinary projects, I don’t want the ordinary RUMA to apply,” Kerschner said last year.
The issue has not been raised in 2020, but the commissioners are expected to discuss the issue Thursday.

During new business, the board is to consider:
* A $166 supplemental appropriation to the Juvenile Court Special Projects Fund.
* A $242.58 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund for salary in the Juvenile and Probate Fund.
* A $200 supplemental appropriation to the Allen Eiry Guardianship Fund.
* An agreement with the Seneca County General Health District for 2020 nursing services on behalf of the Seneca County Youth Center.
* Additional appropriations to ensure the salaries of the Seneca County Commissioners are calculated correctly, per Ohio law. For more information, see Ohio Revised Code 325.10 (http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/325.10)