Commissioners officially stand against landfill expansion

TIFFIN — Seneca County commissioners approved a resolution confirming their position against the expansion of Sunny Farms Landfill at a meeting Thursday. The approval came after County Administrator Stacy Wilson said a representative from the EPA reached out to the office for assistance in locating a venue for a public meeting on the proposed renewal of the air pollution operating permit for the landfill. The meeting was originally going to be a virtual meeting Monday, June 27. Ben Nutter, community engagement manager for Win Waste Innovations which operates Sunny Farms Landfill, spoke to the commissioners prior to the resolution's approval Thursday. He said the landfill has been compliant with EPA standards and wished the company had more time to prove to the public that they are trustworthy after issues in the past. The commissioners said they are representatives of their constituents and have received public input against the proposed expansion of the landfill. After receiving this input, they decided the best course of action was to approve the resolution against expansion, they said. "There are a lot of things I want to be known for and having the biggest landfill is not one of them," Commissioner Tyler Shuff said. The resolution can be read in full online at the following link: https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=http%3A%2F%2Fsenecacountyohio.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2022%2F06%2FResolution-Opposing-Landfill-Expansion-FINAL-DRAFT-2-1.docx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK. The board then passed a proclamation declaring June 19–25 as Amateur Radio Week. Later in the meeting, Seneca County School of Opportunity Superintendent Lew Hurst discussed the recent accreditation of the Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities. He explained that it was a 3-month process that involved the school sending the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities its policy and procedures for review, department representatives providing feedback on policy and procedures on-site and on-site observation. The commissioners also opened a bid for the Seneca County School of Opportunity parking lot project. It was estimated to cost $400,000 and they received one bid from Helms and Son Construction for $400,600. The board then had their annual ditch hearing with Wyandot and Sandusky County commissioners. Two joint ditch resolutions were approved. Seneca County Sheriff Fred Stevens then presented the department's annual report. The report includes a breakdown of all the divisions of the Sheriff's Office and statistics within those departments. It also discussed some of the administrative staff and their positions and an organizational chart of the department. Statistics were provided on calls, arrests and revenue. The stats for calls by township were listed over 15 pages. "I think the most important part of this is our mission statement and core values," Stevens said. "Our staff worked together to come up with these. We now have signage throughout the office showing the mission statement and core values." The annual report also included recognition and awards for Sheriff's office staff. As for supplemental appropriations, the board approved $22,868.89 to the Enterprise Zone Fund, $25,000 for gasoline and $100,000 for diesel fuel to the Maintenance and Repair Fund, $1,911.43 to the Sheriff Comm Fund, $4,050 to the Probate and Juvenile Computer Fund for software licenses/services, $6,000 to the Concealed Handgun License Fund and $575 to the general fund for training. The next commissioners' meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at the commissioners' office, 111 Madison St. The meeting will also be available live on the commissioners' Facebook page and via Zoom.