Pre-meeting release for 2/14 session

Commissioners to hear EMS update, talk TSEP contract

[Tiffin, OH Feb. 12, 2019] – The Seneca County Board of Commissioners is to meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at its office, 111 Madison St.
At about 10:15 a.m., Seneca County Emergency Services Director Ken Majors is to present a report on Seneca County EMS. Majors, and other department heads, routinely give annual reports at the beginning of each year.
In old business, the board is to discuss a downtown parking study completed by Gossman Group.
At the Nov. 6 meeting, Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership CEO and President David Zak presented the $18,000 study to the board. In January 2018, the commissioners agreed to contribute as much as $7,000 for the completion of the study, which also received funding from the city of Tiffin and local judges.
The plan includes research on several aspects of downtown parking. It also examines the feasibility of erecting a parking garage.
Zak said at the November meeting that the study did not recommend the construction of a parking garage at this point, but it did analyze four potential areas for a garage. The study deemed the Seneca County Commissioners’ Office building and lot as the best place for a garage if one eventually is constructed.
The study also recommends creating public-private partnerships to bring the garage to fruition
Zak noted that the study is broad-based and is not a detailed investigative analysis.
Commissioner Shayne Thomas noted another recommendation to the plan, to beautify alleys and make them safer, so pedestrians don’t mind walking a little further to reach their destination.
Tiffin City council approved legislation Feb. 4 accepting and endorsing the study. The board is expected to discuss the parking plan and could vote to accept it. This would not commit funding to the project.
In other business, the board is to consider a contract with TSEP that would be valid through 2021.
Last week, the board approved its contract with Fostoria Economic Development Corp. through 2021. The county has not previously had formal agreements with its economic development agencies, but commissioners decided to begin doing that, so duties and responsibilities of the organizations are clearly stated.
During appropriations, the board is to consider:
-> A $353,389.04 supplemental appropriation to the Wireless 9-1-1 Fund. The money is leftover from 2018 and is being re-appropriated for 2019.
-> The disposal of a 2010 Ford Crown Victoria and a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria for the sheriff.
-> Appointing David Zak, Steve Painter and Chris Schiefer to the Tax Incentive Review Council for the county’s Rural Enterprise Zone.
-> Moving the date to receive bids for the School of Opportunity Center improvement project to Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. at the commissioners’ office.
-> Approving the bonding company and the bond for Julie Adkins as county auditor and Paul Harrison as county treasurer.