Conaway readying to bring contractors into courthouse
By Kevin Risner, krisner@advertiser-tribune.comPeople in downtown Tiffin may see some activity in and around the 1884 courthouse during the next three weeks. Franklin Conaway of the Seneca County Courthouse Development Group is expecting to bring contractors to tour the building to confirm costs for various tasks.
Conaway said he was in town Thursday to meet with Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. President Rich Focht and local contractors. He met with the commissioners to provide an update on progress as the development group continues its efforts to create a plan to save and renovate the vacant courthouse. Conaway said he expects to deliver a more detailed update to Commissioner Dave Sauber next week.
Conaway asked permission for the development group to repair a water leak on the side of the courthouse to prevent further damage from water leakage. The commissioners gave approval. Conaway said he would like to have access to the courthouse to take various contractors - electrical, masons, plumbers - through the next two or three weeks to allow the contractors to confirm costs for needed work.
"Any time you need to get into the building just let us know," Sauber said to Conaway.
Conaway also asked permission to take a roofing contractor onto the courthouse roof.
In a related matter, the county maintenance department found a set of blueprints for the courthouse in a vault area inside the facility. The commissioners said they thought the blueprints could be an original set. The commissioners said they were contacting Museum Director Tonia Hoffert to get her advice about how to handle the blueprints. Seneca County Engineer Mark Zimmerman's department can make photo copies of the blueprints that can be provided to Conaway, the commissioners said.
Conaway has requested access to original blueprints as part of the development group's efforts to preserve the courthouse.
In another matter, the commissioners met with Jim Bischof of the Fostoria Economic Development Corp. Bischof recommended the commissioners cancel an abatement agreement with Norton Manufacturing in Fostoria. The abatement cancellation is only for a tax that is no longer in effect. The change is to clean up bookkeeping for the overall abatement agreement with Norton, Bischof said. The commissioners passed a resolution to cancel the abatement as requested.
Sauber reported to the board he has spoken to Zimmerman about assessments for a ditch project along CR 16. Sauber and Zimmerman were researching whether originally proposed assessments could be changed to spread costs out more evenly to all affected property owners.
Sauber said changing the assessments did not look promising, but he and Zimmerman still would consider different options.
The commissioners met with local attorney Dean Henry. Henry questioned the involvement of County Prosecutor Ken Egbert Jr. in litigation related to the courthouse. Henry argued the commissioners had hired outside legal counsel to supplant Egbert for the litigation. Egbert said the issue of his involvement had been previously argued, and repeated he had participated as part of the county's legal counsel.
In other business, the commissioners approved resolutions for the following:
* Accepting and escrow agreement as submitted by Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp. as part of the development group in regards to the 1884 courthouse.
* Rescinding the board's orders of Oct. 2 accepting TR 1198 and the extension of T.R. 1195 in Clinton Township and transferring maintenance.
* Approving a resolution with corrected language for TR 1198 and TR 1195.
* A supplemental appropriation of $1,000 to the Concealed Carry Weapons fund.
* An appropriation adjustment of $9 within the general fund from contract services to other expenses.
* An appropriation adjustment of $1,000 within the general fund from advertising to travel.
* Appropriation adjustments totaling $5,500 within the general fund from relief to van supplies and drive salary.
* Appropriation adjustments totaling $40,000 within the maintenance and repair fund from pipe and concrete to road materials.
* Appropriation adjustments totaling $1,821 within the soil and water fund from workers compensation and contract repairs to contract services.
* Appropriation adjustments totaling $25,000 within the Workforce Investment Act fund from advertising and WIA shared costs to other.
* An appropriation adjustment of $500 within the sewer district fund from other expenses to supplies.
* Repayment to the general fund of $15,000 from the flex spending account fund.
