County gets update on proposed new mental health facility

TIFFIN—The proposed behavioral health facility with the Seneca County Jail is in the research phase and is moving forward, as the Seneca County Board of Commissioners heard an update Thursday morning. Greg Telecky of Kleinfelder, a company specializing in architecture and engineering and Mircea Handru, executive director of the Mental Health and Recovery Services Board provided the update on the Regional Secure Behavioral Health Treatment Facility project that has been in the works for a year. Telecky said representatives from Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties made a case for grant money from the State of Ohio "to perform a study to evaluate the feasibility of a facility that would handle a certain population segment that was in each of your jails." Telecky said that when jails were built, they were not built to deal with "that particular population," alluding to those with a criminal record who also suffered from mental illness. This facility would offer inmates from Ottawa, Sandusky and Seneca counties mental health treatment but would only be available through a screening process at the detainees' home county jail. Commissioner Tyler Shuff asked what processes would be in place to prevent inmates from "doing a 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," or avoiding the harsh reality of jail and spending their sentence in an easier mental health facility. Handru advised that it would be the previously mentioned screening process that would make the distinction between criminals and those suffering from mental illness. While still in the research phase of the process, Handru said they hope to have a plan for the building finalized by the end of this calendar year. While there is a similar facility in Franklin County, there is no facility in Ohio of its kind that is a joint effort between counties. Telecky advised the commissioners that the plan in place at the moment is 60 beds, with 20 being allotted to each of the three counties. On another matter, Andrea Smythe and other representatives from the Seneca Conservation District gave an update on the 71 drainage structures in the county that are on the schedule for the upcoming ditch hearing. Smythe also gave an overview of what the SCD's drainage structure maintenance schedule is, saying that because of budgets, not everyone may understand that maintenance is always done a year behind. She advised that work orders for ditch maintenance are only started after inspections are completed. These inspections done by the county indicate how much will be needed in the budget but money is not received to complete the work until approved by the commissioners. "We can't perform the work if the money is not there," Smythe said. She also explained that landowners could perform the work themselves or call her office directly to make a plan to complete work sooner. Community member and local farmer Gary Weller, who was in attendance at the meeting, said after waiting a year to have his ditch drainage structure fixed, he completed the work himself and was then frustrated to find he was still being charged for the work on his taxes. Smythe and Weller, with the help of the commissioners, later came to an agreement allowing Weller to be reimbursed for the work he completed on the ditch. In other news, commissioners also opened bids for updates made to buildings in Fostoria to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Two bids were opened, but none were officially accepted. Shuff reported attending the primitive village for a history lesson with area 5th graders as well as the heritage festival parade and the republican headquarters grand opening with state representatives Bob Latta and Gary Click also in attendance. County Administrator Barb Patterson reported approximately $973,000 was collected in county sales tax in July, however Commissioner Anthony Paradiso said that was down 3.23% from staying on target with the budget with not much chance of closing that gap before the holiday season. Paradiso later commented that while the county's budget as a whole is not "in dire straits," the county is hurting from the decrease in sales tax revenue and "everyone needs to tighten up." Shuff agreed and said that if county subdivisions were going to ask for more money, it should be asked for in person, not through an email. Patterson also reported the Seneca County Dog Warden asking for fees imposed on dog owners to be raised to account for the rising cost of materials and care needed to adequately provide for dogs being temporarily housed by the county dog warden's office. The commissioners agreed, but could not grant the request until a public hearing had been held. The time and date of the hearing will be advertised with the A-T. In other news, the board approved the following supplemental appropriations: $6,570 from the Sheriff's Commissary Fund for software licenses and services. $31,000 from the BJA Grant Fund for salaries. $1,500 from the BJA Grant Fund for supplies. $1,500 from the BJA Grant Fund for contract repairs. $750 from the BJA Grant Fund for contract services. $750 from the BJA Grant Fund for software licenses and services. $2,500 from the BJA Grant Fund for travel and expenses. $1,500 from the BJA Grant Fund for other expenses. $449.50 from the BJA Grant Fund for Medicare. $620 from the BJA Grant Fund for Worker's Comp. $800 from the BJA Grant Fund for HSA Contribution. $8,694 from the BJA Grant Fund for hospitalization. $4,340 from the BJA Grant Fund for PERS. $14,250 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for salaries. $6,000 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for supplies. $10,500 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for contract services. $206.75 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for Medicare. $285 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for worker's comp. $400 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for HSA Contribution. $3,846.75 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for hospitalization. $1,995 from the Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Grant Fund for PERS. The board also denied the following supplemental appropriations: $3,679.83 from the General Fund for salaries. $96.56 from the General Fund for Medicare. $932.29 from the General Fund for PERS. $1,950.47 from the General Fund for salary sewer district admin. The board approved the following resolutions Accepting the resignation of Christopher Easet as full-time paramedic for Seneca County EMS effective Oct. 7. Approving the amendment to the contract for victims assistance services. Adopting monitoring policy for sub-recipients of federal grant funds. To support and encourage Seneca County Health District to appeal the Ohio EPA's decision approving the expansion of the landfill operated by WIN Waste Innovations. The board tabled the following resolution: Authorizing the Seneca County Commissioners to enter into an agreement with RS Associates. The next regularly scheduled meeting is at 10 a.m. Oct. 3, 111 Madison St.