Commissioners approve support resolution for HB 401

Seneca County commissioners Thursday approved a resolution of support for House Bill 401 introduced by Rep. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin) to the Ohio House of Representatives. The bill, and a companion bill introduced in the Ohio Senate, would give local people the option of choosing a referendum to vote on wind turbine projects. Last week, the three commissioners attended a press conference hosted by Reineke announcing the bill at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus. Also Thursday, the commissioners commended Tonia Hoffert, director of the Seneca County Museum, for 20 years of involvement with the museum, which included several years as a volunteer. They gave her a letter thanking her for being "an integral part in improving the museum." "Many people across our county have been educated and enriched through the stories you and other museum personnel have shared about our history," the letter states. "It has been said before that history often repeats itself. We thank you for helping to teach us those lessons of the past so we can put our best foot forward as we move into the future." In other business, the commissioners approved a motion to appoint Fostoria resident Nate Heiser to the Ottawa Sandusky Seneca Joint Solid Waste Management District's Policy Committee. The 21-person committee includes a spot for a concerned resident from each county. Heiser, who was at the meeting and spoke about issues concerning Sunny Farms Landfill during public comment, agreed to take the position. But the appointment must be approved by representatives from the city of Tiffin, Loudon Township and the Seneca County General Health District. Also, the commissioners heard a presentation from Amy Huffman, of Palmer Energy, about an upcoming electricity rate contact for the county because the current contract expires May 2020. They agreed a three-year contract would be best, and a contract will be presented within the next few months. The commissioners confirmed upcoming meeting dates: 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, budget meeting with sheriff and judges. 10 a.m. Thursday, regular meeting. 9 a.m. Nov. 26, regular meeting moved from Thanksgiving. 10 a.m. Dec. 3, regular meeting moved from Thursday. Regarding a matter on the agenda to clarify wording in the resolution that sunset the Alternative Energy Zone in June, the commissioners agreed to look into the matter after the county prosecutor returns from the Republic Wind adjudicatory hearing going on this week in Columbus. The commissioners approved: * A $38,822.04 supplemental appropriation to the Pre-Sentence Investigation Writer Fund for contract services. * A $60,000 supplemental appropriation to the General Fund in the Transfers Out line to direct money from leases to the Capital Improvement Fund. * An access-visitation grant with Patchworks House on behalf of the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services. * A fiber five-year repayment schedule on behalf of the Seneca County Emergency Management Agency and the commissioners, which sets up a timeframe for the General Fund to be reimbursed for money fronted for the county's fiber communications project. * A resolution certifying unpaid assessments to the county auditor for collection, as per Ohio Revised Code, which corrects an error in paperwork. * Authorizing split usage of funding for the Seneca County Museum and the American Civil War Museum for the State Capital Budget Funding application. It splits the grant and allows $25,000 for each museum.