County hears insurance updates

TIFFIN — Members of the Seneca County Commissioners met for a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday to discuss an update to the county’s Health Insurance with special guest Kim Bond.

Bond outlined the renewal with the County Employee Benefits Consortium of Ohio, noting a 14.7% premium increase next year — raising the county’s total annual premium to roughly $608,500. The county will pay 85% of the premium, with employees covering the other 15%.

Bond also noted employees will see an 11% contribution increase for employees, and a 27% contribution increase for the county.

The health plan’s $3,500 deductible remains unchanged, along with HSA contributions of $800 for single coverage and $1,600 for family coverage distributed quarterly. Open enrollment for county employees is currently scheduled for Oct. 20-31.

In other news

Speaking at the meeting were Sandy Sprang and Marissa Bechstein of the soon to be named Lake Erie West Regional Council.

Sprang and Bechstein gave a lengthy presentation in regards to the 2026-30 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, a regional plan for Seneca, Sandusky, Ottawa, Lucas and Wood counties. Officials intend to seek Economic Development District status to strengthen their access to federal funding.

Public comment on the draft plan is expected to open in early October, pending the commissioners approval prior to the end of the year.

New business

County Administrator Barb Patterson explained several supplemental appropriations before commissioners formally adopted the resolutions.

Some of which included a $20,000 transfer from the General Fund for the youth center’s nursing and meal contracts, $200,000 to be split between the County Capital Projects Fund and Employee Liability Fund, and $34,500 for architectural work on museum HVAC upgrades, funded by a state grant due by June 30.

Other appropriations included $1,095 and $228 from the Sheriff’s Commissary Fund for services and software, and $5,678.97 from the Crum Ditch Project Fund to repay an advance to the General Fund.

The formal resolutions read as follows:

• A resolution authorizing a fund advance repayment from the Crum Ditch Project Fund (1064) to the General Fund (0010) in the amount of $5,678.97

• A resolution authorizing fund transfers to the County Capital Projects Fund (1215) in the amount of $100,000

• A resolution authorizing fund transfers to the Employee Liability Fund (1901) in the amount of $100,000

• A resolution appointing Robin Reaves as the representative for Seneca County to the OneOhio Region 17 Board effective September 11, 2025

• A resolution authorizing payment of late fees on Aqua account in the amount of $2.73

The next regular commissioners meeting is set to take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18.