Panel hears veterans review

Seneca County commissioners heard an update from Seneca County Veterans Service Office personnel and reorganized for 2018 Monday evening. Tara Balliet, veterans service office assistant director, said each year the group addresses commissioners on its budget and happenings within the office. She said the office and commissioners have a great working relationship. "We all have the same goal, to get veterans exactly what they need and deserve in this county," Balliet said. She said that for every dollar the county spent on veterans last year, $43 in federal tax money was brought back into the community to help vets. "Thank you for working with us as well as you do," Balliet said. In other business, the board agreed to re-appoint Commissioner Mike Kerschner as board president while Commissioner Holly Stacy was re-appointed as board vice president. Stacy was named the group's representative to the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Commissioner Shayne Thomas is to serve as alternate. The board also finalized committee assignments and agreed to continue meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesdays in 2018. Commissioners plan to meet at 9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month for a work session. Commissioners are to continue having a quarterly off-site meeting in different townships, villages and schools in the county. Although dates were not finalized, the board discussed Loudon Township, Seneca Township and one of the county schools as sites this year. In other news, Thomas said he met with city, county and judicial officials who serve on a downtown parking committee to discuss funding a potential parking study. He said initial plans were too specific and focused on the feasibility of a downtown parking garage. Thomas asked the committee to broaden the scope to study more aspects of parking downtown but added that it would increase the cost. He said the total is likely to be $18,000-$20,000, with the city, county and judges splitting the bill. Commissioners plan to discuss the study at the Jan. 16 regular meeting. In new business, commissioners approved: • A petition for the annexation of real estate in Jackson Township to Fostoria. The roughly 6.2-acre property in question is located at 10700 W. SR 12. A public hearing is to be conducted regarding the annexation at 10 a.m. March 6 at the commissioners' office. • A $156,750 contract with Electronic Specialty Co. for audiovisual equipment in the Seneca County Justice Center. • A $353,053.04 supplemental appropriation to the E-911 Fund. • A $229,825 fund advance from the General Fund to the Wolf Creek Petition Ditch Fund. • A $34,923.21 annual appropriation for the Ohio History Connection – Rover Pipeline Community Historic Preservation Fund. • Authorizing the county engineer to prepare and submit an application for the Ohio Public Works Commission State Capital Improvement and/or Local Transportation Improvement Programs. • Authorizing the county engineer to hold an annual meeting of county and township leaders. • Authorizing the county engineer to spend funds for supplies for snow removal, emergencies and meetings. • Designating Mark Zimmerman as the authorized agent to participate in the Ohio Department of Transportation Cooperative Purchasing Program. • Appointing members to the Revolving Loan Fund Committee for three-year terms. • The sale of a 2006 Buick Rendezvous, a 1996 Chrysler Town and Country and a 2001 Chrysler LHS Sedan on behalf of the sheriff's office. The vehicles sold for $1,750 total. • A contract with Picometry International Corp. for digital aerial photography of Seneca County on behalf of the auditor's office.