COURTHOUSE WINDOWS DISCUSSED … Williams County Facilities Maintenance Manager, Gene Woodring, was present as three gentlemen from Garmann Miller, Multi Service Design, discussed the replacement and renovation of the Courthouse Windows with the Commissioners at the February 7, 2022 meeting. (PHOTO BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
Following the snow storm break experienced by Northwest Ohio, Williams County Commissioners reconvened on Monday morning, February 7, 2022 to take care of business.
They began the day at 8:30 with the EMS Monthly meeting with Kyle Brigle and moved into General Session at 10 a.m.
Approval was given to:
-Resolution 56 Reappointing Linda Kidston as Trustee for the WC Public Library for a term of seven years, effective January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2028.
-Resolution 57 Lease Agreement between WC JFS and House of Prayer in Montpelier for rental of premises for purposes of meeting with clients at a cost of $200 per month, with term being January 1 – June 30, 2022.
-Resolution 58 Proposal from Republic Services for continuation of current agreement for refuse collection with 36-month term and 60 day notice.
-Also Signed: Dog Warden report for January 2022 and for week of January 24-31; a summary of work-related injuries and illnesses; inventory to be destroyed submitted by Judge Gallagher’s office; letter to Office of Community Development regarding monitoring response letter; and estimated credit card appropriations for Engineer’s office.
-Minutes for January 31, 2022, and payment of bills
Following a short recess, the commissioners met with Williams County Auditor, Vicki Grimm, to discuss the processing of invoices and payments for dog tags.
Ms. Grimm informed the commissioners that she was “caught off guard” by a ”directive” that she had gotten in the form of a letter to her office.
She expressed her frustration that they did not go to her office and discuss it instead of sending their concerns in letter form.
Commissioner Brian Davis quickly said, “Well, first of all, lets clarify. It is not a directive. It is a letter.” Commissioner Lew Hilkert said that the concern was that some of the bills for dog tags are going to the commissioners’ office, and as they “have no jurisdiction on the dog tags,” it was confusing.
Ms Grimm said that she had sent an advertising bill to the Commissioners office because she thought it was supposed to be paid there as the Commissioners are “the owners of the budget.”
At this point she stated that she was not so much concerned by where the bill was to be paid, as to why they “couldn’t have just talked about this and figure out how to divvy up the duties.”
She also said that in the letter it stated that as there are “only two people in this office and you don’t have time for it.”
She continued, “You guys have thrown a lot at me in the past two years that we have just very willingly done, and so this was kind of a slap in the face to have this memo sent to me without a conversation.”
After Hilkert tried to bring the conversation back to who was supposed to handle dog tag refunds, Grimm again said that she just felt a conversation was warranted.
At that point, Commissioner Terry Rummel stated that he did not have any prior knowledge of the letter and assumed that a conversation was had before it was sent.
He said he should not have assumed that and apologized for his “portion in this,” adding, “for this office to just send out a letter like this and not actually have a conversation, is concerning to me.”
Hilkert asked in discussion if “communication was lost” when the Dog Warden was transitioned by the Commissioners to the Humane Society.
Rummel said, “I think we communicated that this office was going to keep, go back to, paying the bills is the communication that was set forth.” Hilkert said he did not recall that.
Grimm said that her office is efficient at it and do not mind taking care of the paying of the bills, “but that is not the point. The point is, give me a call. Let’s talk about it. Let’s figure it out.”
She explained that at this point the commissioners’ office and her office are each paying about half of the dog warden bills, but she wondered if that is the most efficient way to handle it.
It was agreed that they need to have more discussion on who is to pay the bills, and the assistants from the two offices could figure out how that might best be handled.
Rummel said he would handle it, with them, as he is the commissioner who communicates with the Dog Warden.
With nothing further, they went into a 20- minute recess before meeting with three representatives from Garmann/Miller, the full-service design company with whom they are working to replace the courthouse windows. Also present for the meeting was WC Facilities Maintenance Manager, Gene Woodring.
Garmann Miller, Ryan Heitkamp, who is the project manager, explained that they have been working with Capital Window Replacement and Centennial Renovation Group to cover the 130 replacements and the six curved windows restoration. He gave Woodring drawings to present to the Courthouse Renovation Committee.
Eric Baltzell, Garmann Miller Principal/CEO, said that they should be ready to go to bid quite soon. The Renovation committee had a meeting scheduled for Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. so they will be able to discuss anything at that time.
There was some discussion about possible begin and end dates for the project but it was not something they could pin down due to a number of factors.
Construction administrator, Jason Fleming, from Garmann Miller, explained to the commissioners that once the work crew gets started, they are very efficient and he does not foresee any boarding up of windows happening.
He also clarified that it might take two or three months for the complete job.
The commissioners said they will need to review with the auditor, how the payment can be handled if the supplies are purchased and warehoused until the company has the time to do the job.
They agreed that Garmann Miller should proceed with the bidding process and keep them posted.
As they were already present, the commissioners chose to also talk with the Garmann Miller reps about the Fourth Floor Renovation.
They discussed what needs to be done which includes the removal of asbestos, the discovery of where the supporting walls are located, and the rebuilding of everything in the offices.
Hilkert said they would like assistance from Garmann Miller with the process, once they get all the info needed gathered.
Baltzell said that once the commissioners have a Hazardous materials removal company in place, his company can join the discussion. They will work “hand in hand with them as a design team.”
Due to the funding available, it has a time frame, so after talking with Dennis Miller with Maumee Valley Planning, the commissioners will get back to Garmann Miller.
With no further business that day, the meeting adjourned around 11:20 a.m.
Rebecca can be reached at rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
