WC 4-H DIRECTOR…Stacey Perry, of the OSU Extension office, serving in Williams County, gave a report to the WC Commissioners at their May 13, 2021 morning session. Perry spoke about the year ahead and was especially glad to be doing camp again.
By: Rebecca Miller
The May 13, 2021, Thursday morning Williams County Commissioners. Meeting began with an Executive Session to consider the employment of Personnel. They came out with no action and went into the 9:30 meeting regarding the mass Notification System, with Apryl McClaine and Brandi Frisbie.
McClaine, who is the Director of the Williams County Emergency Management agency, reported that they have run into some issues with the vendor, Everbridge, who was the chosen mass notification system.
She requested permission to switch to the vendor, HyperReach, as after talking with some others using their system, she believes it will work better for Williams County.
“It looks easier and is going to be quite a bit cheaper than Everbridge was,” she said. Her last quote from Everbridge was going to be $16,079.67 and HyperReach is only charging $8400 with a five year contract.
Following some discussion, the commissioners approved going with HyperReach, but for a three year contract. They will sign a resolution to that effect on Monday, May 17.
McClaine clarified that the only thing that the citizens would need to do is connected to whether or not they want to change their notifications. They will be doing fewer with this company, probably only ten.
After a short recess, the commissioners approved the following:
-Resolution 174 Supplemental Appropriations on behalf of Williams County: Common Pleas Court; Engineer’s Office; Hillside Country Living; and Prosecutor’s Office
-Resolution 175 Declaring it necessary to levy a tax in excess of ten mill limitation for the benefits of the WC Public Library
-Resolution 176 Authorize and Direct the President of the Board of Commissioners to submit Program Year 2021 Community Development Program Grant Applications for Small Cities Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds to the Ohio Development Services Agency
-Resolution 177 Entering into a credit application with Applied Metals and Machine Works,Inc. On behalf of the WC Engineer
-Resolution 178 Approving Title XX County Profile on behalf of WC JFS
-Also signed: Letter to Everbridge Notice of Non renewal of contract; Special Hauling permits 28-32; DK Resignation from Emily Pearson; Dog Warden Report for the week of May 3-9, 2021;
Notification of intent to convert Sick Leave upon retirement from Pam Welch; Notice of Award for Bona Vesta Flood and Drainage Project; Carryover Vacation Request for FS, Jane Yahraus;
Notice of Retirement effective June 30,2021 from JFS, Jane Yahraus; EMS Full time business office assistant – Shelby Uran; MVPO/CHIP Payroll/Release on behalf of Jeremy and Nicole Bowers.
-Minutes of previous meeting and payment of bills
Commissioner Terry Rummel gave an update on the new solar fields going in just south of Holiday City in Jefferson Township. Since he was quoted in the Bryan Times as saying he didn’t think this project was going forward due to lack of funding through APEX Energy, they have come back with a more reasonable rate at $750,000 on top of what they are giving to the local schools, roughly $100,000 of additional tax money for Montpelier and Pioneer.
He stated that now he would like to more forward and “at least entertain the idea of having Dalton re-engage with us to talk about that offer in order to move that forward.”
Commissioner Brian Davis updated that he had a conversation with Brent Wilson of the Airport Authority Board. He has a project about which he wants to speak with the commissioners concerning lack of space in an emergency.
Stacey Perry, the OSU Extension Educator for 4-H in Williams County provided a 4-H programming update. Enrollment numbers came in and they have dropped by about forty from last year.
She feels that students and parents are experiencing “Zoom Fatigue” from all the online things they have had to do over the past year in every area of their lives. She said that in the program, they are going to get better at the things they have had to do online and are looking forward to having to do less in that way. “Right now we are kind of all things camp,” she said.
“We are still doing a 4-H Camp this year although it is going to look a little different. We are doing a three day camp for June 7-9 with the first tow days at the WC Fairgrounds in Montpelier. On the third day, they will transition to 4-H Camp Palmer where it will be a longer day so kids get to make use of the facility.”
There will be zip lining and swimming and other activities they love on that day, such as outdoor cooking and tie dying. They are collecting Camperships presently, which is what kids can do to receive half off the cost of camp.
Another activity they have been able to do in Montpelier and West Unity High Schools, was called “Real Money, Real World”, a financial literacy program. They have some upcoming dates with the Food and Clothing workshop as well as some other events.
Commissioner Rummel asked if she would check into the possibility of doing the in person “Real Money, Real World” with Juvenile Detention.
Following some more discussion, the commissioners thanked her for the update and encouraged her that considering all that everyone has been through, the numbers aren’t bad.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
