County approves funding

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners approved several resolutions Monday covering jail infrastructure, foster care funding, and county facilities, while also hearing a presentation clarifying the role of the Seneca Conservation District in overseeing local farm operations. The session which opened with a proclamation declaring April 2026 as National County Government Month. Jail door retrofit awarded Commissioners approved awarding the bid for a jail door control system retrofit to Security Automation Systems at approximately $112,000, based on a recommendation from the Sheriff's Office following last week's bid opening. Commissioners also approved a quote of $51,658.85 with Commercial Carpet and Tile to replace flooring at the women's facility at Crossway. The company also handled flooring at the male facility, and officials said they preferred to continue working with the same contractor. Foster Care, ERO stipend drive budget moves The board approved several supplemental appropriations, including a $100,000 transfer to the Children's Services Fund for foster care placements, the second such transfer this year. Commissioners noted that officials are exploring potential partnerships with other counties to improve placement options, including a visit to a Geauga County nonprofit that has developed a framework for housing placement. "The money that we have to put into it, it is what we have to do," Busdeker said of the ongoing foster care costs. Additional appropriations tied to a jail Employee Retention and Operations stipend included $1,751.31 for a new desk, $10,000 for various supplies, and a $58,278 transfer to the County Capital Projects Fund to cover equipment purchases that exceeded the $5,000 capital threshold. A $24,000 fund advance was approved to the Community Development Block Grant fund to allow purchase orders to be placed for a homelessness program, with drawdown reimbursements expected to follow. EMS billing transition underway Commissioners unanimously voted to terminate the county's service agreement with Health Services Integration, Inc. effective Oct. 1, 2026, following a request from EMS officials. Officials said the county is transitioning to Ohio Billing for those services and that a 90-day notice is required under the current contract. Commissioners also authorized the annual ODOT road salt contract for 2026 on behalf of the Seneca County Engineer. Conservation District clarifies role Morgan Metzger, district administrator for the Seneca Conservation District, appeared before the board to correct a published report she said inaccurately stated that her office was locally monitoring Seneca Poultry LLC. "It was stated in The A-T that Seneca Soil and Water is locally monitoring Seneca Poultry LLC, and this information is inaccurate and it needed to be corrected," Metzger said. The error was made in a response submitted by Seneca County Commissioner Bill Frankart to an Advertiser-Tribune candidate Q&A published this week. Metzger explained that oversight of large permitted livestock and poultry facilities falls under the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Livestock Environmental Permitting, known as DLEP. The conservation district's role, she said, is to serve as a local resource and referral point, directing complaints and inquiries to the appropriate state agency. "We do not monitor. We do not patrol. We do not scout looking for problems," Metzger said. "Someone has said that we are the manure police, and we are not." She noted that the Seneca Poultry facility is the first permitted poultry operation in the county, though not the first permitted agricultural facility overall. Metzger invited the public to a local work group meeting Tuesday evening at the Ag Service Center from 6 to 8 p.m., where representatives from the conservation district, NRCS, FSA and OSU Extension will be on hand. Metzger also raised questions about data centers, noting her office had received inquiries about potential water quality and quantity impacts. "I didn't actually have any answers either, but I did say I would do my research and ask," she said. Commissioner Paradiso described the city of Tiffin as being "on hold" on data centers. However, that characterization is not fully accurate. Tiffin City Council received the second reading of a moratorium resolution April 6, with a final vote expected at the April 21 meeting. No moratorium is yet in effect. Commissioners also noted that a statewide legislative study on data centers is underway. Insurance, revenue notes During commissioners' reports, it was noted that the county renewed its property and liability insurance through Corsa, a county consortium, with a premium increase of about 6% to around $388,000. The county also received a $32,000 dividend credit for participation in safety courses and cyber training programs. County Administrator Cheyenne Heyman reported that the county took in about $4.3 million in revenue during March, roughly $1.8 to $1.9 million of which came from real estate tax, while expenditures totaled about $2.3 million for the month. Officials also noted that ICE jail housing revenue has not been received for three months due to federal funding cycle disruptions, representing approximately $500,000 in delayed funds. Commissioners said they expect the payments to resume.