SCAT bus garage, 2024 eclipse topics at commissioners meeting

Seneca County commissioners heard about a possible $4 million bus garage project during their meeting Tuesday and the beginnings of plans to handle an influx of people during a solar eclipse to take place in April 2024. Seneca Crawford Area Transportation Executive Director Mary Habig informed the commissioners about her plans to seek grant funding for a large bus garage for use by SCAT and the Seneca County Opportunity Center, and requested approval because the land where the building would be constructed is county land. She would like to use the area between the SCAT office and the Opportunity Center on the county's southern campus. Habig did not ask for county funding. She said she plans to seek grant funding. The commissioners said they would like to see more concrete plans before giving approval, but all three liked the idea as long as it doesn't conflict with plans already in place. During her presentation, Habig said she hopes the building would be constructed in 2024, and the grant writing and preliminary steps would take place this year. Other details such as square footage are not yet known. She said the building would be a large "green" building that used environmentally friendly practices such as an inverted roof to collect rainwater in a cistern to be re-used in a bus-washing station and use solar lighting to save money and possibly sell back to utility companies. Also Tuesday, Seneca County Emergency Management Agency Administrator John Spahr told the commissioners about a meeting to introduce public officials to the idea of hosting large numbers of people during a solar eclipse the afternoon of April 8, 2024. "This will block out the sun entirely for about 2 minutes right here in Seneca County sometime after noon," he said. Spahr said this will be first total eclipse in Seneca County since 1806 and won't happen again until 2099. Because he's expecting an influx of people to triple the county's population on the day of the eclipse, he has called a meeting of community leaders in about two weeks to discuss logistics and safety. "How do we manage 200,000 people who weren't already here and still handle all the usual things?" he said. "But if you flip it over, it is a tremendous opportunity for an economic boon to Seneca County," Spahr said. Another meeting will be scheduled later to inform community members and business owners about the eclipse, update citizens on plans to deal with large numbers of people and how the community can benefit economically. During new business, the board approved supplemental appropriations, including: • $45,197.21 for the Community Development Block Grant Fund program for Fostoria ADA ramps in the 2021 project year. • $13,142.87 to the Enterprise Zone Fund for contract services. • $431,800 to the Community-Based Correction Facility Fund for capital improvements, specifically for a boiler and roof at Oriana House. • $1,098 to the General Special Projects fund for contract services. • $3,900 to the General Fund for software licenses/services for the treasurer's office. Resolutions approved by the commissioners included: • A $50,000 fund transfer to the Loan Repayment Fund for an annual payment on a $500,000 fiber project. • A $400,000 fund transfer to the Justice Center Operating Fund. • Setting 10:30 a.m. March 9 at the commissioners' office to receive sealed bids for the CR 27, CR 38 and TR 194 superstructure replacement – prestressed box beams project. • Authorizing Oriana House to enter into a contract with JB Roofing for $331,409 for the second part of a roof project.