Seneca Co. Commissioners approve Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month proclamation

Tiffin, Ohio — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners has recognized March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month with a proclamation.

During a board meeting Thursday, self-advocates Paula Bollenbacher, Nick Frisch, Jerry Recker, and David Adkins informed the board about upcoming events to celebrate the cause, including a bakery BINGO on March 21, a celebrity basketball game on March 30, an Easter egg hunt on April 1, and the annual Palm Sunday dinner on April 2.

The bingo event will take place at the Opportunity Center gym, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and bingo going from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The cost is $5 for the first card and $2 for each additional card. Donations of baked goods are being accepted on March 20th and 21st.

For the Palm Sunday dinner, a ham or chicken meal can be pre-ordered for $12 by March 20th. To order, call Joan at (419) 447-7521, ext. 1134, or email jfredritz@senecadd.org. Dinner includes chicken breast or ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, roll with butter, coleslaw, and a cookie.

In other news, Bryce Riggs, the Executive Director of the Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce, visited the board meeting to give a brief update and discuss a three-year contract extension. The contract is the same as the expiring three-year deal, with lodging tax funds directed to Destination Seneca County for reinvestment in tourism and marketing the community. The new contract runs from 2024-2026 and was unanimously approved.

Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership Development Manager Adam Gillmor provided an update on a major project in downtown Tiffin. The project is expected to provide 75 leasable housing units, including five floors of residential space and one ground floor with space for three retail businesses. Gillmor said the project is slated to include a publicly accessible riverwalk.

County Administrator Jaime Wolfe reported that while crews were undergoing duct cleaning at the RTA Building, issues were found and it was recommended that the ducts on the first floor be replaced.

Wadsworth, an HVAC company that has worked with the county on several projects, put together a quote of about $98,000 to replace the ductwork. The system is currently shut down, and Wolfe said that it needs to be handled quickly. Wolfe is working with the prosecutor’s office to forego the bidding process, which is typically required for projects above $50,000, because this is an emergency and work needs to be completed soon.

Finally, County Fiscal Officer Barb Patterson provided February’s General Fund financial report. She said revenue was about $1.9 million, while expenses were about $3.5 million last month. About $1 million was moved for capital projects, making the expense figure somewhat misleading. For the year, General Fund revenue is about $3.3 million, with expenses at about $5.4 million.

In new business, the commissioners approved:

• A $55,365.58 supplemental appropriation to the Victims of Crime Act Grant Fund and a resolution in the same amount authorizing a fund transfer from the VOCA Grant Fund to the VOCA Fund.
• A $3,247.66 supplemental appropriation to the Maintenance and Repair Fund for software licenses/services.
• A $3,810 supplemental appropriation to the Emergency Management Fund for leases.
• A $14,000 supplemental appropriation to the Ambulance Service Fund for training/education.
• An appropriation adjustment in the General Fund moving $29,000 from the professional services line to the software services line.
• A resolution establishing the Indigent Driver Alcohol Treatment and Indigent Drivers Interlock and Alcohol Monitoring Fund on behalf of the Juvenile/Probate Court.
• Authorizing the IV-D service contract between the county common pleas courts, the juvenile clerk, juvenile magistrate, clerk of courts, sheriff’s office and the county on behalf of the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services.
• Rescinding the amended resolution authorizing Oriana House to enter into a contract with JB Roofing.
• Resolution resolving the balances of two bank accounts on behalf of the treasurer’s office.
• An engineering services agreement with Stantec Consulting Services for the 2023 land acquisition assistance agreement and all other related documents.
• The contract between Seneca Regional Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Services and the county for tourism-related services, effective from Jan. 1, 2024 through 2026.