By: Rebecca Miller
The Monday morning, April 19, 2021 Williams County Commissioners session began with them entering into an Executive Session at 8:31 to consider employment.
They exited at 8:48 with no action taken and went into a short recess. At 9:11 the commissioners entered General Session with three people present via Zoom. Approved during this portion of the morning, were:
-Resolution 144 Accept and Award Bid in regards to Project #5-2021 Asphalt Paving Program
-Resolution 145 Entering into an MOU on behalf of Williams County Department of Job and Family Services
-Resolution 146 Entering into an MOU on behalf of Williams County Department of Job and Family Services
-Resolution 147 Entering into a Notice of Federal tax Exemption for WC Department of Aging
-Resolution 148 approving and Authorizing the installation of Stop Signs at intersection of County Roads D and 25
-Also Signed: Notice of Award for Project #5-2021 Asphalt Paving Program; Permit: Use of County Property for Bryan Area Ministers Association for National Day of Prayer on May 6, 2021 at Courthouse Gazebo; Credit Card Appropriation of Commissioners’ office and Sheriff’s office for May 2021; Job Certification Summary for Jacoby’s Ole Smokehouse; dog Warden Report for Week of April 5-11, 2021; Approval for Sheriff Kochert for changes within office.
-Minutes for April 15, 2021 and Approval of bills
With no other business before the board, the meeting adjourned for the day. On Thursday morning, April 22, 2021 the Commissioners passed the following before hearing from WEDCO representative Megan Hausch:
-Resolution 149 Supplemental Appropriations for Department of Aging and Prosecuters
-Resolution 150 Declaring it Necessary to Levy a Tax in Excess of the Ten Mill Limitation 0.4 mill renewal levy on behalf of Williams County OSU Extension Office for educational activities related to agriculture, natural resources and 4-H programs for tax years 22-26.
-Also Signed: Application for Tile of Ditch Repair No. 2021-02 Applicant Corey Oberlin; Letters of Recommendation to hire two full time EMTs
-Minutes dated April 19, 2021 and payment of bills
Following a short recess, the Commissioners welcomed Hausch at 9:26 a.m to discuss the Enterprise Zone petition in the Village of Pioneer. Hausch informed the Commissioners that the Annexation process for about 160 acres in Pioneer is finished and “now we are moving on to the next step, expanding the Enterprise Zone boundaries to make that site truly attractive for future potential development, of if there are existing employers in the area, for expansion.”
In the process of working on that process and getting all the maps in place, they discovered that the Enterprise Zone boundary petition like they are doing for the North Park was not completed back in 2015 for an additional 32 acres that had been annexed into the village.
She explained that they were able to work with the State and combine both the 32 acre parcel from the 2015 annexation along with the 160 acres from the 2021 annexation, “so it all ended up working out very well…and they will be submitting it to the State of Ohio.”
She showed copies of the maps to the commissioners, clarifying where the properties lie. Continuing on, Hausch said that they have sent certified letters to the local school districts to notify them so that the process can keep moving forward.
After approval from the state is received for the packet they are sent, “we will be able to offer incentives to any potential companies looking to expand in any of those areas,” she said, adding, “So the next logical step in getting the area ripe for development, and Pioneer is a very hot area right now, we want to be sure in the community that we are ready to go for any potential business.” Commissioner Lew Hilkert commended
Ms. Hausch for all her hard work during this long process and thanked her for “an outstanding job of working with this.” The Commissioners then voted to approve Resolution 151 Amendment to Enterprise Zone Agreement between Williams County and the Village of Pioneer.
A half hour of the meeting was suspended and given to the Treasurer for an advisory update on their investments, before re-entering the general session for an update from Jacob Huner who is the Liaison for Secretary of State Frank LaRose.
Huner recapped 2020 and the “successes we had partnering with the Williams County Board of Elections.”
He spoke some about 2021 and their legislative priorities and then gave a brief update on the new Board of Elections online filing system for local candidates which they rolled out earlier this year.
One huge piece of news he shared was that they were surprised that record business filings did NOT fall dramatically as they expected, but that actually it was “a record breaking year of people seeking new files of incorporation across the State of Ohio.
We managed to shatter the previous record by the month of October last year, which was set in 2019 at about 140,000 businesses. When all was said and done, as December 2020 came to a close, we saw 170,000 new businesses filed in the State of Ohio.”
He commented on the thought that it shows that Ohio business owners and entrepreneurs are willing to take on a risk and they have inspiring ingenuity.
He spoke also about a new program called Ohio Business Spotlight in which they are going to be promoting businesses that do well. He commended WC Board of Elections on the great job they did with all the difficulties involved in the recent election.
Williams County voters turned out in record numbers, surpassing the statewide average by about a half a point at 74.39%.
He mentioned minority business owners frustrated with bureaucracy concerning getting certification, so they have introduced bipartisan legislation on Senate Bill 105 “to keep one statewide standard where localities will recognize the minority business enterprise certification or re-certification that the state provides” allowing business owners less red tape.
He covered any number of other topics which can be seen in the minutes on the Williams County Commissioners website, before wrapping up his presentation speaking about a “new and exciting program that we have that gives local candidates the same options that federal and statewide candidates have had for years.” It allows them the option of filing campaign finance reports online.
Following some discussion about the information he had given, the Commissioner thanked Mr. Huner and went into an Executive Session to consider the purchase of property of any sort. They came out of ES with no action and adjourned for the day.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com