Seneca County narrowly failed to meet the requirements for Local Government Innovation Fund study grants.
John Davoli, director of North Central Ohio Regional Council of Governments, gave an update to county commissioners Monday morning on the study grants on natural gas usage and a joint-courthouse.
Davoli said the county and the city just missed the 60-point requirement for the courthouse study by two points. He said the minimum requirement was changed from 50 points to 60.
Davoli said he plans to apply again in March for a $100,000 study.
He said LGIF would like to explore the options of making a building that would be used for more than just a courthouse, including other public services.
The other grant NCOR sought was for a study on compressed natural gas, which would replace gasoline in county-owned vehicles.
He said the county is in the final payment process for the LGIF IT consolidation study, and the study has been completed. Davoli is to send commissioners a copy of the study.
Also at the meeting, Commissioner Jeff Wagner said the teleconferencing bill did not get approved before the year ended, so it is to be re-introduced sometime in 2013.
He said the bill was passed unanimously in the state Senate, but did not make it through the House before year's end.
The bill would allow commissioners to conduct
some business with other counties - for example, joint-county ditch hearings - via teleconference, saving the time and expense of attending in person.
Since the bill did not pass in time, commissioners are required to attend the joint-ditch meetings in March, Wagner said.
Also at the meeting, Wagner was officially appointed president by the board, after it was discussed at last week's meeting.
Commissioner Fred Zoeller said Wagner was the best choice for president because of his experience, not only as commissioner, but also at the state level.
Commissioner Holly Stacy was appointed vice president.
The commissioners also approved the new meeting schedule, after discussing it at last week's meeting. Commissioners' meetings are set for 10 a.m. every Tuesday and the last Thursday of every month.
Starting in February, commissioners are to have work sessions at 9:30 a.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The public can speak informally with commissioners during these sessions.
The board's first off-site meeting is to take place in Fostoria at 7:30 p.m. March 26.
The commissioners are to meet once a quarter outside of Tiffin, and Zoeller said He wanted to meet in Fostoria first because it has the second-highest population in the county.
In new business, the board approved:
A resolution for the re-organization of the Board of Seneca County Commissioners for 2013.
A resolution designating board appointments for the Seneca County Board of Commissioners for 2013.
Bill vouchers
Fund transfers of $130,000 to be made to the Soil and Water Fund.
Fund transfers of $10,000 to be made for the LGF alternate formula to the Soil and Water Fund.
Fund transfers of $41,000 to be made to the Soil and Water Fund.
An appropriation adjustment of $41,000 for Ditch Maintenance Fund.
Fund transfers of $155,000 to be made for the LGF alternate formula to the Ambulance Service Fund.
Fund transfers of $65,000 to be made for the LGF alternate formula to the EMA Fund.
A supplemental appropriation $1,846,182.96 to the 2012 County Road Resurfacing Fund for 2013.
An appropriation adjustment of $70,501.05 within the General Fund.
A resolution reappointing Steven Lepard to the Seneca County Public Defenders Commission, term expiring Dec. 31, 2016.
A resolution reappointing Thomas Distel to the Seneca County Public Defenders Commission, term expiring Dec. 31, 2016.
A resolution appointing Zoeller to the Seneca County Public Defenders Commission, term expiring Dec. 31, 2016.
A resolution authorizing the Seneca County Board of Commissioners to sign an agreement with Medical Benefits Administrators Inc. for COBRA administration.
A resolution entering into an administration agreement for the Seneca County Housing Revolving Loan Fund and authorizing the Chief Officer, Jeff Wagner as chairman of the Board of Seneca County Commissioners, to sign the HRLF administration agreement to be submitted to the State of Ohio, development services agency for the period of Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2015.
