Commissioners hear 2019 EMS report

The five volunteer EMS districts in Seneca County responded to 1,289 calls and transported 761 people in 2019. Seneca County Commissioners received an annual report during their meeting Thursday from Seneca County Emergency Services Director Ken Majors. "Bascom again was our overwhelmingly busy squad with 598 runs and 67% of revenue," he said. In addition, Majors said the Echo unit responded to 933 calls to assist volunteers and provide paramedics when the needed. "It's the most we've ever responded to," he said. "The (advanced life support) capability of the Echo, it brings the ability to render aid at a higher level. "The Echo has actually proven its value time and again," he said. "It's done a really good service to the county." He said several EMTs have been working as volunteers for more than 20 years. "We have some really talented folks," Majors said. "We're appreciative of their time because their time is really valuable." Majors said several Seneca County EMS volunteers received recognition last year, including Denny Hanlon being selected by Gov. Mike DeWine's office as healthcare worker of the year for Ohio. Hanlon and Jen Hill also received the 2019 Catherine McAuley Lifetime Achievement award from Mercy Health. Majors said he looks for the volunteer districts to move toward a paid structure. "You're going to see some big movement on that this year," he aid. "It's difficult to find volunteers to do this at the level we need to do it. It's time to move forward to a paid system." He said the Bascom and the New Riegel area squads have excellent volunteer bases, but the others struggle to find enough people and there are times they're out of service. "Township and joint ambulance district leaders are seeing a need for change," he said. Beth Diesch, team leader with Seneca Conservation District, reported on the county's apiary inspection service through the SCD office. The program started last year. She said 80 people in the county care for 300 hives. "They aren't all exactly healthy, but that was expected," she said. The county's honeybee population reflects the state of honeybees across the United States. She said one person at the Ohio Department of Agriculture handles paperwork connected with apiaries in all 88 counties so beekeepers in neighboring counties also are in need of an inspector. Diesch also said landowners in the Wolf Creek Ditch watershed will be receiving tax bills that include assessments for the cleanup of Wolf Creek. The project took place 2012 to 2019 and affects 50,000 acres from the Bettsville area to the Bascom area. "It also includes a maintenance assessment to make sure we're never in this situation again," she said. She said a drone is scheduled to fly over the ditch to check for maintenance needs and to create a benchmark of data. "We're not expecting to find much, but it gives us an idea of how quickly impediments build up," she said. Log jams and sediment bars can be cleared more often. Also Thursday, County Administrator Stacy Wilson said sales tax collected in November showed an increase of 5% compared to the same time period in 2018. The commissioners receive sales tax information two months after it is collected. The commissioners approved $2,000 from the General Fund for a new printer for auditor's office, but denied the auditor's request for another $2,350 for other line items. They also approved: • Supplemental appropriations for the General Fund of $107,107.92 reflecting the amount needed for 2% employee pay increases, and non-General Fund supplemental appropriations beginning Jan. 1 and expiring Dec. 31. • Appointing Commissioner Shayne Thomas to the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership for a one-year term. • Reappointing Greg Edinger to the Great Lakes Community Action Partnership for a one-year term. • Authorizing the county engineer to post bridge legal load limits on various bridges throughout the county. • Authorizing the employee 2020 wellness extra incentive premium differentials.