By: Rebecca Miller
The Williams County Commissioners Monday, March 22, 2021 session lasted less than five minutes with the approval of a few items. On Thursday, March 25, 2021, a number of resolutions were passed and the commissioners gave updates for Clerk, Anne Retcher, on a number of projects that are ongoing.
Approved on Monday, were Resolution 112 Supplemental Appropriations on behalf of Williams County Commissioners and Common Pleas Court, and Resolution 113 Solid Waste Management Plan Update for the Joint Solid Waste Management District of Defiance, Fulton, Paulding and Williams County. Also signed were the expenditures for April on behalf of the Commissioners office and 2021 Workers’ Compensation Chargeback Letters.
Motions to approve the minutes dated March 18, 2021 and to pay the bills as submitted by the Auditor were approved as well. With nothing further the meeting adjourned.
On Thursday, March 25, items approved included:
•Resolution 114 Supplemental Appropriations on behalf of Williams County Auditor; Commissioners; Department of Aging; EMS; Engineer; Park Board; Prosecutor; and Sheriff
•Resolution 115 Advertising for Sealed Bids for Project #5- 2021 – Asphalt Paving Program
•Resolution 116 Entering into an Agreement with MVPO for Technical Assistance of CDBG grant fund for Grant Number B-D-20-1DA-4
•Resolution 117 Entering into a CCAO Workers’ Compensation Group Retrospective Rating Plan Agreement
•Resolution 118 Accepting and awarding bid to Bryan Excavating in regards to Project #3-2021- Bridge and Culvert replacement
•Resolution 119 Authorizing participation in the ODOT Road Salt Contracts Awarded in 2021
•Resolution 120 Authorizing Amazon Line of Credit Agreement on behalf of Williams County EMS
•Resolution 121 Entering into Demolition Contracts on behalf of MVPO with Advance Demolition Services
•Also Signed were Monthly Expenditure for April 2021, for the month of March; Special Hauling Permits 21-013 through 21-017; Kunkle Paperwork: Performance Bond, Change Rider, Application for a Permit to Construct a Dam or Levee in the State of Ohio; Permit for County Property; Bryan Chamber for Movie Nights on May 27, June 4, July 2, August 6, and September 3, 2021; Notice of Award on Project 3-2021; Maximus Certificate of County-wide Cost Allocation Plan
• Minutes dated March 22, 2021 and Payment of bills
Updates were given on the window project, Asbestos plan, Solar project and refinance.
Commissioner Lew Hilkert reported that a company has reared out who is willing to assist with the bidding, overseeing the work, etc. of the window replacement.
Commissioner Brian Davis added that he had received notice of a man out of Columbus area that is from Bryan and specializes in windows so he put him in contact with maintenance to possibly be another source for a quote.
Concerning the asbestos plan, Davis said that the test results have come back and it is below the threshold of 1% in the walls of the Commissioners Room, “not to the level that it is in the ceiling and floor.”
He added that the conference room has none in the walls as it is of a different material. The walls still need to be repaired so further discussion will be held.
Commissioner Terry Rummel reported that at the Call Center 450 people had volunteered to fill for Saturday March 27, 2021. He believes that it will slow down to the point that they will eventually hadn’t the phone back over and it won’t be a full blown call center.
People who want a vaccine should call 419-636-0081, ages 16 and up, for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. He said that he has been in touch with Lt. Governor Jon Husted to get the Johnson and Johnson here as they have been sent mostly to the larger cities.
Rummel also updated the others on the Solar Project, saying that he has been talking with Dalton Carr and “It looks like they are proposing $7000 per kilowatt hour, for the Solar Project in Jefferson Township, and we are thinking they need to come in at $9000.
There is just no money it it there for the County at 7, it would pay the existing taxes and keep everyone whole, but there are some risks that go along with it.” Negotiations continue and they hope to keep the project moving forward.
On the Refinancing current bonds, Hilkert said that several discussions have been held with the auditor. “From an Accounting standpoin, it would work a lot better in the Auditor’s Office if these noters were kept separate.”
“We don’t know what the cost would be to bid those out individually. I would suggest that we take the largest ones with the higher rates and consider refinancing those.”
“We are also going to reach out to USDA tat the notes are with and see if they can do a modification agreement that would allow us to keep all the notes and terms in the same l language they are now and just change the rate of interest. So, we are waiting to see what we can find out on those.”
“If we don’t do anything going that direction then we would talk to the Baird company in regards to bidding those out on individual notes rather than lumping them together.”
Following a recess, the Commissioners met regarding a Petition for Ditch #737 by Bob Thiel. Mr. Fritsch, County ditch engineer, reported that at the time of the preliminary hearing he had requested more time be granted to study the existing tile and the impact to the petitioners land.”
“The study was completed and they found that the cost would outweigh the benefit. His recommendation was to dismiss the project and not follow it through to completion. Present for the hearing were CFO Bucky Muehlfeld, Kim Herman, Judy and Joseph Hug, Patti Rockey, Judy Muehlfeld and Bob Thiel.”
“Mr. Thiel said he was “having a little trouble understanding. I get really angry and frustrated with this cost benefit scenario when we are dealing a tile that is a tile of record.” He went on to say that the ditch has “severe problems…no outlet as it is overgrown…100% blocked.”
He said that it frustrates him that they think it costs too much and that he “would be extremely disappointed for this project not to have better consideration for all the parties.”
Following further comments and discussion which included Mr. Hug, Commissioners Davis and Rummel, it was stated that as Mr. Thiel has a very small portion of land that is affected, and the cost is too high for those in the watershed who would have to carry the bulk of the payment, that they would approve the dismissal of the County Ditch #737 Petition.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
