NEW DOG WARDEN … Alicia Strup was sworn in as the new Williams County Dog Warden by Judge JT Stelzer on June 10, 2021 in an early beginning to the day. Strup replaces Pam Welch who held the position for the past 20 years. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Promptly at 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, June 10, 2021, Judge JT Stelzer arrived in the Common Pleas Courtroom and extended his hand to the two young ladies waiting to be sworn in.
Alicia Strup is the new Dog Warden, moving from her position as a Deputy Dog Warden into the position which has been held by Pamela Welch for the past 20 years.
With her was Deputy Dog Warden Emily Pearson who needed to be sworn in for the new year. (On the 15th, he also swore in Jennifer Buehrer who is also a Deputy Dog Warden.)
Strup has been with the Humane Society for ten years and has been a Deputy Dog Warden for eight years. These three are also a part of a big change for the Dog Warden department which has been joined together now with the Humane Society.
During the June 7, 2021 Commissioners session, Resolution 210 was approved, stating that the Commissioners who have been over the Dog Warden’s office, are “entering into an Agreement for Humane Society to Assume Dog Warden duties, between WC Commissioners and WC Humane Society.”
Chief Humane Officer Lisa Stalter said in a phone interview that this is a move that will be beneficial for all involved.
With all of the Dog Warden officers also being certified Humane Officers, they can now do their duties of both more efficiently. The office is already located at the Humane Society so that won’t change.
“This will save a lot of money,” Stalter said, adding that she feels the Commissioners made a good decision to do this. With the officers being authorized now to deal with all issues including the responsibilities of the Warden as well as cruelty, abuse and neglect, they will be flowing together smoothly.
This change allows the commissioners to subcontract out the day to day duties of the Warden’s office to the Humane Society, with the auditor and the commissioners still having oversight. Now the Dog Warden and deputies will be employees of the Humane Society.
In their Regular sessions on June 10, 2021, the Williams County Commissioners approved the following:
-Resolution 212 Supplemental appropriations on behalf of WC Court of Common Pleas; Engineers office; Hillside Country Living, and Sheriff’s office.
-Resolutions 213, 214 and 215 Entering into an agreement with REA Pivot Point on behalf of WC Auditor – for Website Hosting Agreement at a cost not to exceed $15,000; for Field App Solution at a cost not to exceed $9,140.80; and for Land Use Value Calculator at a cost not to exceed $1,622.95, all three for a term of 7/1/21-7/2/22
-Also signed were: JFS Vehicle purchases for 2-2021 Chevrolet Equinox LT; Letter to all County Employees about a Blood Drive on July 29 and July 30; Notice of Retirement from Pam Welch effective June 14, 2021; Letter to Ohio BMV regarding the plate on 2009 Pontiac G6; Contract Status Inquiry regarding MVPO Project; Insurance coverage for M. Gazarek-Evan
-Minutes for June 7, 2021
-Payment of bills
Following a short recess the commissioners went into an Executive Session to discuss the Solar Project. They came out with no action taken and then at 11:30 held a meeting with Christina Deehr of Maumee Valley Planning.
Following an introduction of what she needed from them, the commissioners voted to approve Resolution 216 Entering into an agreement with MVPO for the Sub recipient Agreements between WC Commissioners and Bryan City School District; Sarah’s Friends, Incl; and North Central school District to receive a portion of the county’s CDBG-CV funds pursuant to Grant.
They also approved Resolution 217 Entering/Accepting an Application for Deposit of Public Funds from F&M State Bank and hereby makes application to be designated as a depository for inactive/active funds for a period from March 27, 2021 and ending August 14, 2021.
A long recess was held and at 1:00 the commissioners met with Amy Hoffman from Palmer Energy. The purpose of the meeting was to sign the Electric Aggregation Contract for the communities participating – two townships and three villages that have ceded authority to be part of the full aggregation for the county.
The current contract with Energy Harbor ends in September, but as they won the bid as the lowest, Energy Harbor will still be the supplier, but with the new rate.
A fixed rate of 0.0459 per kilowatt hour will be the rate from September 2021 through December 2021.
The commissioners voted to approve Resolution 218 Entering into a First Amendment to Master Agreement to Provide Services to an Aggregated group between WC Commissioners and Energy Harbor, LLC for electric aggregation services for a term of September 2021 meter read dates through December 2023 meter read dates.
After some further information and discussion with Ms Hoffman, the Commissioners Sessions were adjourned for the day.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thvillagereporter.com