Seneca County Board of Commissioners may be forced to go with a less expensive version of landscaping at the former courthouse site after Bilger's Lawn and Landscape decided against doing the project.
"I respectfully decline," owner Brian Bilger said. He said he didn't think he could fit it into his schedule.
"Other companies will be able to do a nice job," Bilger said.
Mohawk Nursery and Perennial Landscape and Design also offered proposals for the project.
"Bilger's and Mohawk Nursery would both accomplish what we're looking for, by making the area attractive," Commission President Ben Nutter said during the Tuesday commissioners meeting.
Mohawk Nursery's proposal was about $6,000. Commissioners said they favored Bilger's more expensive design, that came in at less than $9,000.
Fact Box
During a meeting
Tuesday morning, the Seneca County Board of Commissioners approved the following:
Bill vouchers.
A resolution establishing the ability to dispose of unnecessary, obsolete or unfit county property by means of an Internet auction as an alternative to public auction of sealed bid and charging county department administrators or directors with disposal management oversight.
An appropriation adjustment of $407.10 within the General Fund.
A supplemental appropriation of $35,252 for the Homeland Security Grant Fund.
A resolution reappointing Jimmie Young to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot counties by
June 30.
A resolution authorizing annual assessments upon benefited landowners as defined by state law, for the approval of proposed maintenance work for several single-county ditches now under maintenance for 2012, and approval requests for maintenance work performed as submitted by Seneca Soil and Water Conservation District, Ditch Maintenance Department and approved by the Seneca County Engineer.
A resolution setting June 21 to receive sealed bids for Seneca CR 3,
CR 12, CR 38 pavement resurfacing.
A resolution authorizing the FY2012 Ohio Airport Grant for the obstruction removal of trees and a building project on behalf of the Seneca County Airport.
Revising the boundaries of the Seneca County Sewer District to include territory within the village of New Riegel.
A revised general plan of sewerage for the Seneca County Sewer District, according to state law.
Detailed plans, specifications and estimate of cost for the construction of the Bascom Sewer Project.
A resolution declaring the necessity of constructing the Bascom Sewer Project to provide service to properties located in the Seneca County Sewer
District.
A resolution authorizing the Seneca County Prosecutor's Office to represent the board in matters related to the Seneca County General Health District.
A resolution authorizing commissioners to enter into an agreement with Seneca County General Health District for 2012 nursing services on behalf of the Seneca County Youth Center.
Three Crawford County commissioners were in attendance, and all six commissioners approved a Crawford County Joint County Ditch Resolution regarding maintenance assessments for Seneca and Crawford joint county ditches maintained by the Seneca County Ditch Maintenance Program.
The difference between the two proposals was $2,184.51, Nutter said.
Commissioner Jeff Wagner said he was in favor of Mohawk Nursery or Bilger's.
"If Bilger is not able to do the work, then we certainly want to stay local and we will go with Mohawk Nursery," Nutter said after hearing of Bilger's decision.
Perennial is located in Carey in Wyandot County.
"People get upset about the courthouse," Nutter said, "but we want to make it an attractive center of town. We want to move forward."
Nutter said the money will go into several nicer looking trees and $600 in benches.
Tiffin resident Loretta Miller said she is against the project.
"It is a waste of my taxpayer money," Miller said.
Commissioner Dave Sauber, who lost in the primary, also opposes the project.
"This is nothing more than a political move to take the pressure off during election time," Sauber said.
Also related to the courthouse site, Sauber said flagpoles are to be up with three flags - the U.S., Ohio and POW flags - flying this week.
The board passed two separate resolutions for Helms and Sons Excavating Inc. to begin construction on the Bascom Sewer Project as soon as a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture closes next week.
"We wanted the construction firm to get started to not hold up Hopewell-Loudon Schools," Nutter said.
