County park board accepts barn demolition quote

Seneca County Park District's board Tuesday accepted a $7,300 quote from Slingwine Excavating LLC, of Republic, to demolish the old barn at Bowen Nature Preserve, West Lodi. The barn, which is in disrepair, has been replaced with a new building. In her written report, Executive Director Sarah Betts said a new digital TV was installed in the conference room at the park office. The board had approved the purchase at the January meeting. The TV eliminates the need to print large packets of information for meetings, she said, because half the screen shows the agenda and the other half shows the documents being discussed. During the last meeting, she said board members were encouraged to use laptops or tablets. Betts said she has heard from several companies interested in the wetland renovation project at Fruth Outdoor Center, which is the first stage of the H2Ohio Fund grant project. She said she was highlighted in the Explorers newsletter as an alumnus of the Explorers youth program. Betts said she and Linda Rose, naturalist and preschool administrator, attended the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association conference in Sandusky. She also attended a Small Agency Forum that took place before the conference to gather project ideas and contacts for future projects. She said information she gathered is available at the park office for other agencies as well. In her written report, Rose said she and new naturalist, Angie Ford, attended the Northwest Ohio Naturalist Gathering in January at Johnny Appleseed MetroParks, Lima. In January, she offered 35 programs compared to 17 during January last year, attended by 419 people, compared to 151 people in January last year. The board's next meeting is at 8:30 a.m. March 10 at the park office, 3362 S. TR 151.