Officials butt heads

TIFFIN — At the Seneca County Commissioners' meeting Thursday, the board met with the city of Clyde Safety Service Director Paul Fiser, Solicitor Zac Selvey and others regarding Clyde's CR 34 water line project. The project includes "an intake and pump station on the Sandusky River and then the installation of a 20" force main to Clyde's Beaver Creek Reservoir, which is approximately 6 miles to the east," Fiser told the A-T. "The goal of the project is to make our water system more resilient with the addition of an alternative water source. The Clyde Water Treatment Plant produces water for Clyde, Green Springs and the neighboring Ohio Turnpike Plazas." The project has been in the works for about 20 years, but it stalled out due to a lack of funding. Last year, the city of Clyde received about $4 million from the Ohio Department of Development. During the meeting on Thursday, Fiser shared that the project plans were with Seneca County Engineer Mark Zimmerman for a little over 9 months and were returned with provisions that would allow for approval of the plan. The project has been bid to a local contractor, however, because Seneca County is completing a road improvement project on CR 34. Clyde's work on the road will not begin until October. Fiser said the city can complete some work that will not interfere with the road improvement project. Commissioner Bill Frankart said there were concerns from residents that yards and driveways would be destroyed during Clyde's work as part of the process includes boring into the ground. He also expressed concern there has not been any communication with residents who will be impacted. Fiser explained that the city is two months out from doing construction on the road and is compiling a contact list. He said the city does not want to talk with residents too far ahead of time as changes could be made before construction starts. Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said that the commissioners support the project, however, they are backing Zimmerman and the residents. "As recently as April 23, he (Zimmerman) stated that with the provisions the permit would be issued," Fiser explained. "We were working in good faith." As discussions continued, concerns were raised regarding transparency, preserving lawns and driveways and restoring the area. "We have emails as late as April 2024, saying 'tell us everything you want because we're about to bid this out'," Solicitor Zac Selvey said. "We get everything back that the engineer wants. We then bid it out. Then we get the rug pulled out from under us a little, saying: 'We also have all these other stipulations because now we've heard some grumblings.'" "You guys are in government; you spend government money. That's not how that works. We've been told we can do this project; we're going to proceed with this project. Before we spend hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in taxpayer money, we're going to pursue other avenues – we're going to have to." As the discussion wound down, the parties decided to schedule another meeting to continue working toward a solution. Other business Seneca County Master Gardeners attended the meeting to update the county. President Marsha Dandar and publicity chairperson Steve Detillion discussed how the volunteer members receive continuous education through travel and presentations and share their knowledge and produce with the community. Dandar shared that the group awarded two scholarships to high school students last year and impacts the community in other ways like donating seed packets at food drives, selling plants at an annual sale, putting up a display at the Christmas light show at the fairgrounds and donating produce to local food pantries. Master Gardeners has 38 members but is now looking for more to join in 2025. For information or to join the program, call the OSU Extension Office at 419-447-9722 or visit mastergardener.osu.edu The board approved the following supplemental appropriations. $3,000 from the general fund to be remitted to the state $3,503.85 to the Sheriff's Commissary fund for software licenses and services $25,000 to the General Special Projects fund for equipment $1,155 to the General Special Projects fund for contract services $141,767.94 to the Mental Health and Recovery Services Grant fund for contract services $8,000 to the Dog and Kennel fund for capital improvements The commissioners also approved the following resolutions. Authorizing a fund transfer to be made to the American Rescue Plan fund Approving the amendment to the Tyler Technologies contract dated May 3, 2023, for the sewer district Authorizing county administrator Barb Patterson to sign for participation in the Kroger National Opioid Settlement Agreement Authorizing the Seneca County Commissioners to enter into a contract with DBT Transportation Services for the ODOT project number 24-09, AWOS III, P/T replacement Authorizing the Seneca County Commissioners to enter into an agreement with the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board for behavioral health services on behalf of the Seneca County Youth Center Authorizing the emergency right of way access of 75' in accordance with ORC 6137.12 for the purpose of the Crum Tile and Waterway project #12-316 The next meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18 at the Seneca County Commissioners' Office, 111 Madison St., Tiffin.