County hires new administrator

TIFFIN — The Seneca County Board of Commissioners approved a new county administrator and received a wide-ranging transportation update from the Ohio Department of Transportation during their Tuesday morning meeting. Following an executive session lasting just over an hour, commissioners voted unanimously to offer the county administrator position to Matthew "Matt" Clouse of Alvada, pending a background check. Clouse is expected to begin within a month. The position had been vacant since the resignation of Barb Patterson, whose departure took effect March 6. No reason for Patterson's resignation was provided publicly at the time. Commissioners expressed reluctance in accepting it, with Commissioner Anthony Paradiso saying he was "disappointed" and Commissioner Brent Busdeker saying he would "reluctantly" second the motion. During the interim period, administrator responsibilities were divided among the three commissioners and County Clerk Cheyanne Heyman. According to Seneca County HR Generalist Andrea Caskey, the position was posted on Indeed and the Seneca County website on Feb. 24 and expired March 13, a window of roughly 17 days. A total of 29 candidates applied and three were selected for interviews. The hiring process was reviewed and approved by the Seneca County Prosecutor's Office. In addition to the three commissioners, the selection process included Heyman and Pat Hire from Clemans Nelson. Clouse's application, submitted Feb. 25, listed a minimum salary requirement of $88,000 and an earliest available start date of April 6. He graduated from New Riegel Local Schools as valedictorian in 1993. Clouse has served as Big Spring Township Fiscal Officer since April 2014 and as Fiscal Officer for the NBS Joint Fire District since July 2022 and for the Seneca County Joint Ambulance District since December 2022, holding all three positions simultaneously. He took on his most recent full-time municipal government role as Finance Officer for the Village of North Baltimore in Wood County in September 2024, earning $75,000 annually. In his cover letter, Clouse cited his fiscal officer experience and more than 30 years in construction management as preparation for the role. "My experience as Fiscal Officer/Finance Officer and many years of management in the construction field have prepared me to serve as your Administrator," he wrote. In response to questions from the Advertiser-Tribune, Heyman provided additional details about the hiring process and Clouse's background. He was selected based on his experience in financial oversight, budgeting and prior experience handling fiscal responsibilities within local government, according to Heyman. Clouse will earn $85,000 annually in the new role. His official start date will be confirmed once he completes his obligations with the Village of North Baltimore. The board's priorities for the incoming administrator include maintaining strong fiscal management, ensuring efficient daily operations, supporting department leadership and continuing to advance county initiatives and services for residents. ODOT presents annual county update District 2 Deputy Director Patrick McColley told commissioners that the agency's most significant internal change in decades was a redistricting that expanded District 2 from eight counties to nine with the addition of Defiance County. "That four-county area really associates together," he said, noting that Defiance, Henry, Paulding and Williams counties share regional institutions including a joint vocational school and rural transportation planning organization. Representatives highlighted the State Route 224 roundabout as their top safety success story in the district, reporting a 100% reduction in crashes and serious injuries since installation. "It was a bad area," McColley acknowledged. "I will absolutely take it." Project engineer Tyler Vaughn outlined upcoming construction, including a State Route 19 resurfacing project from State Route 224 through Republic to State Route 18, set to begin May 4 with an expected completion by end of May. State Route 18 resurfacing from northeast of Republic into Bellevue is scheduled to begin at theend of May and run through mid-July. State Route 224 is expected to go out to bid in August with a completion date extending into next year depending on contractor availability. ODOT maintenance staff said chip seal operations would be skipped this year in favor of smaller drainage projects, culvert work and pavement repairs concentrated near the Huron County line. Representatives also addressed a planned EMS station on three acres along State Route 19 purchased by the county, noting they would work with commissioners on a driveway permit and tile installation along the frontage. On a regional level the deputy director briefed commissioners on a proposed grade separation project at the so-called Iron Triangle in Fostoria, where CSX and Norfolk Southern rail lines intersect and disrupt traffic flow. Both railroads are expected to contribute funding to the project. Also presented was information on the 23-to-71 connector feasibility study, a proposed new highway connection between central and Northwest Ohio. The final report is due to the Ohio legislature in October and will include a final alignment recommendation. At peak travel times in 2055, the route could save drivers an estimated 34 minutes one way between the Toledo area and Columbus. "Somebody's going to have to make a political decision, ultimately, whether that goes forward or not," McColley said, adding that tolling would likely be necessary to fund construction. Other business Commissioners approved seven supplemental appropriations totaling $78,934.69, including $10,000 for a new travel and expense line for the courts, $17,800 for roof and wall repairs at the Bettsville EMS station, $27,600 for engineering services tied to a chiller replacement at the CSB building and $9,100 for architect services for a new agricultural building. Three resolutions passed unanimously: a joint cooperating agreement with the cities of Tiffin and Fostoria for Program Year 2026 funding under the Community Housing Impact and Preservation program; a contract with Security Automation Systems Inc. for a jail door control system retrofit; and a resolution setting May 5 at 10 a.m. as the date to receive sealed bids for the Tiffin-Calvert parking lot expansion and Seneca County Youth Center site improvements. Commissioners approved use of county parking lots for the Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival on Sept. 18-20 and a Seneca County Collaborative Third Thursday downtown pizza party on Sept. 17, both with 4:30 p.m. setup. Commissioners noted that county employees and other departments would need advance notice to clear the lots. A request from 4WINS419 to hold a peaceful interfaith vigil near the county jail on May 30 was denied on safety grounds after the sheriff cited limited public parking and proximity to two heavily traveled roads. Commissioners invited the group to reapply for use of the courthouse grounds instead. County sales tax collections for April, reflecting February payments, totaled $975,878.66, up more than 13% from the same month last year though down 21% from the prior month. The county is running slightly ahead of schedule at just under 37% of annual collections.