County hears from OSU Extension, recognizes Lutz

TIFFIN—The Seneca County Board of Commissioners read a proclamation for county weights and measures inspector Ron Lutz at its regular board meeting Thursday. Lutz plans to retire at the end of the month. Lutz has been the weights and measures inspector since 2013, an important but often overlooked position, overseen by the county auditor's office, that ensures all county scales are correct. Lutz later said there are over 300 scales and measures in the county that he checks yearly from gas stations to supermarket scales and everywhere in between. "Thank you so much: I don't like to be fussed over but I do appreciate it," Lutz told the board. Among those he thanked were County Auditor Julie Adkins, his team, Ohio Department of Agriculture, commissioners and God. County Administrator Barb Patterson also said it was a pleasure to work with him when she worked for the auditor's office. "Just so everybody is aware when you go out and you see gas pumps. That little sticker that says it's been inspected by the auditor, that was Ron," Patterson said. "Julie's name (is) on it, but that was Ron." Adkins said that while in the position Lutz took the weights and measures department to a whole new level. "Now we know what a weights and measures department can be; he set the standard high," Adkins said. She later advised that Derek Burns had recently been certified as a weights and measures inspector and would be taking over the position from Lutz moving forward. In other news, the board heard from Steve Detillion about the Seneca County Master Gardeners. Detillion said he is starting his fifth year with the Master Gardeners, a volunteer program through The Ohio State University Extension. He currently serves as the Master Gardeners publicity chairperson. "With 38 active Master Gardeners and volunteers and nine interns, the Master Gardeners contributed 2,443 volunteer hours and 907 hours of education to Seneca County in 2024," Detillion told the board. Also over the last year, Detillion said some highlights from those volunteer hours included the over 600 hours spent organizing the 25th annual plant sale, which sold over 900 plants and the upkeep of the flower beds at the Seneca County Fairgrounds and the Sorrowful Mother Shrine. Detillion also said the Master Gardeners donated over 1,000 pounds of produce to various Seneca County food banks and charities through the Grow Ohio program and also gave out scholarships to Seneca County students pursuing college degrees in plant science. The board of commissioners later heard from Pressley Buurma, agriculture and natural resources educator with the OSU extension office of Seneca County. Buurma informed the board that in 2024, she hosted over 200 educational programs for the community and surrounding areas and reached approximately 5,000 people and doesn't plan to slow down in the next year. Among the programs, were quality assurance training for various species of farm animals, farming as a business training, pesticide and pest management training, working extensively with the Master Gardeners and urban agriculture. "She doesn't sit still," Patterson said. "Thank you for not sleeping," Commissioner Brent Busdecker told Buurma. "I try to match the needs of the public," Buurma said. In 2025, Buurma said she is hosting a farm accounting program, a beef quality assurance program, a feedlot school in February and a pruning workshop in March. On another matter, Commissioner Tony Paradiso later informed the board that "it's no secret we're trying to extend our runway." He said about a previous meeting he had about the county airport. He said he is working on a master plan for the runway and a justifying statement about why the extension is needed. Busdecker later congratulated Bryce Riggs of the Seneca Regional Chamber, Destination Seneca County and Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership, for recently winning professional of the year from the Chamber Professionals of Ohio. Commissioner Bill Frankart said he is concerned about area villages disbanding if they are unable to find council members to serve. He also said he met with the Fostoria Economic Partnership to discuss the new Welcome Home Ohio program, which grants money to counties to invest in the housing market. The board later approved the following supplemental appropriations: $760.66 from the general fund for contract services. $620.25 from the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services Grant fund for Medicare. $11,540.25 from the Ohio Mental Health and Addiction Services Grant fund for hospitalization. The board also approved the following resolutions: Setting time, date and place to receive sealed proposals for the 2025-2026 community development block grant administrator. Authorizing a subgrant agreement between Wood County Department of Job and Family Services and the child welfare fellowship project party on behalf of the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services. Appointing Barrett Zimmerman as the apiary inspector for Seneca County. Authorizing amendments 1 and 2 for the general services agreement with Stantec for the airport. The next meeting is 10 a.m. Thursday at 111 Madison St. in Tiffin.