Commissioners hear from recovery board

TIFFIN — Members of the Seneca County Board of Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday to approve several supplemental appropriations and several resolutions related to county operations. Mircea Handru of Mental Health and Recovery Services shared some information from the agency's fiscal year 2025 annual report, highlighting the county's mobile crisis response team and other items. He also noted the agency will consolidate with Huron County beginning July 1, creating a five-county district to be known as the North Central Behavioral Health Board (NCBHB). "It really opens a lot of cross-county collaboration," Handru said. "Our most successful programs are the ones where counties partner together." Also speaking at the meeting were representatives of the Seneca County Master Gardener Association, promoting an upcoming spring conference titled "Classical Elements," scheduled from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. March 21 at the Ivy Center. The group also provided some information about their $500 scholarship program, seed swap events, and their annual plant sale planned for May. Administrative reports County Administrator Barb Patterson reported the county has collected just over $2 million in general fund revenue in February, noting the first-half of the real estate tax settlement is expected to be completed by the end of March. Lastly, Patterson shared notice of a proposed senior housing development, Villas at Seneca Place, a proposed 66 two-bedroom unit facility restricted to residents earning below 80% of the area median-income. Several supplemental appropriations were approved, including: • General Fund (0010) Supplies $1,000 – The Seneca County Sheriff's Office received a donation designated for the special response team and requested the funds be appropriated for supplies. • General Fund (0010) LGRAF $250,000 – Funding to be transferred to the ambulance service fund. • General Fund (0010) Transfers–Contract Services $100,000 – Funding for Job and Family Services placement costs. New business Several resolutions were approved, including the following: • A resolution authorizing a transfer in the amount of $250,000 from the LGF alternate formula to the Ambulance Service Fund. • A resolution authorizing a transfer in the amount of $100,000 to the Children Services Fund. • A resolution approving amendments to the predisciplinary notice section of the Seneca County Department of Job and Family Services 2023 personnel policy manual. • A resolution setting March 17 at 10 a.m. as the deadline and bid opening for sealed bids related to superstructure replacement projects on County Road 591, County Road 43, Township Road 25 and Township Road 17. • A resolution authorizing termination of the county's service agreement with the Brewer-Garrett Company effective April 30, 2026. • A resolution authorizing Cheyenne Heyman to perform administrative functions on behalf of the Seneca County Board of Commissioners. • A resolution authorizing the county to enter into an agreement with Thrive Community Partners for administrative transitioning, pending prosecutor approval. The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10.