On to the next

On Dec. 31, Seneca County closed the door on a yearlong bicentennial celebration, and what a year it has been. The Seneca County Commissioners spent the past 12 months striving to improve life in the county, and in the process, they impacted the daily lives of thousands of local residents. Seneca County Commissioners Anthony Paradiso and Bill Frankart and outgoing commissioner, Tyler Shuff, are grateful for the opportunity to serve the county. Life was very different when Seneca County was founded in 1824. Early leaders faced the challenges of untamed land and primitive resources as they created a new community. Today's world offers unique challenges, but the commissioners face their modern work with the same dedication and altruism as their predecessors. Because of the commissioners' commitment to the welfare of county residents, they are leaving the county's first 200 years with a fresh mark of transformative impact in their wake. Among their accomplishments are the creation of a new countywide EMS service and the opening of two EMS stations, which will significantly shorten response time and save lives. They have continued their efforts to gain local oversight of the WIN Waste Innovations of Seneca County landfill and will carry that fight into the new year. As members of the Seneca County Regional Planning Commission, the commissioners worked with other commission members to transition regional planning to the Seneca County Auditor's office, thus saving taxpayer money. They helped spur economic development through their support of downtown Tiffin and county initiatives, including the work of Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership and Fostoria Economic Development Corporation, and they helped fuel local tourism through their support of Destination Seneca County's wide scope of events. The new AG building purchased by the commissioners will bring agriculture support services into the future. The commissioners impacted the lives of children, adults, families, seniors and veterans through their support of the Family and Children First Council, Seneca County Job & Family Services, Seneca County Commission on Aging, Seneca County Veterans Service Commission, and the Seneca County Honor Bus, just to name a few. The commissioners are ready to face 2025 with fresh determination to protect and support local residents by continuing to develop Seneca County into a community where its residents can live with pride and security. Commissioner Frankart and Commissioner Paradiso will be aided in their efforts by the county's newest commissioner, Brent Busdeker, who brings years of management experience to the commissioners' office. The commissioners are grateful to be on the cusp of the next 200 years of Seneca County history. They want to thank local residents for entrusting them with the county's future, and they express deep gratitude for the expressions of support and appreciation that continually pour into the commissioners' office from county residents who recognize the commissioners' dedication and commitment to Seneca County.