By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
The Seneca County Commissioners were disappointed that commissioners from Ottawa and Sandusky counties passed resolutions disapproving Seneca County’s request to withdraw from the Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Solid Waste Management District (OSS). The Ottawa County Commissioners voted unanimously against the withdrawal request on Jan. 9, and the Sandusky County Commissioners voted unanimously against the withdrawal request on Jan. 15.
The Seneca County Commissioners will continue their efforts to gain greater local oversight of the WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County landfill in Fostoria. Seneca County Commissioners Bill Frankart, Anthony Paradiso and Brent Busdeker will work alongside local elected officials – including State Senator Bill Reineke, State Rep. Gary Click and Fostoria Mayor Don Mennel – to address the issue.
Senator Reineke led the fight when he successfully introduced Senate Bill 119 in the State Senate, where the bill passed unanimously in June, 2023. The bill stalled in the House and never left committee in 2024. SB 119 addressed legislative obstacles that prevent counties from withdrawing from joint solid waste districts. Current law does not allow a county to withdraw from a solid waste district unless all other member counties agree to the withdrawal.
Withdrawal from OSS would allow Seneca County to form its own solid waste district, providing more direct access to funding generated by disposal fees and more flexibility for local oversight, helping to protect the health of local residents and the environment. Greater local oversight would allow for best practices of monitoring the landfill’s impact on environmental factors, including air and water quality; economic development, including the landfill’s influence on real estate values and business retention and growth; and quality of life for local residents, including physical and mental health.
At the core of Seneca County’s request to withdraw from OSS is a dedication to protect the people and environment of the county. The Seneca County Commissioners will continue their efforts to safeguard the wellbeing of county residents.