County receives more than $1.6 million in funds
Auglaize County will be accepting the largest CARES Act grant to date, funds made available through the state of Ohio.
Auglaize County will receive $1,645,247.94 in this round of state funding, bringing the total to $2,536,471.56. The same House Bill will direct $349,474 to Wapakoneta while St. Marys will receive $294,051.61.
County Administrator Erica Preston said they are considering additional public safety measures for the law enforcement center to help spend that money down by Nov. 20 when it will be reallocated amongst local entities.
Commissioners will put $300,000 aside for local businesses to receive grants to cover Covid-related expenses and raised the cap amount to $15,000.
A a $91,965 bid for an HVAC isolation room at the county jail facility has already been approved. The project, which was awarded to New Knoxville Supply, will create a room deemed necessary to isolate confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19 among inmates at the facility.
Sheriff Al Solomon told commissioners although the county is currently housing 47 inmates, they would need to move 15 inmates during construction. Solomon said he was looking for help through probation efforts to find a solution.
Auglaize Developmental Disabilities Superintendent Renee Place reported October is National
Disability Employment Awareness Month and the board had planned to display billboards. She thanked elections director Michelle Wilcox for a recent presentation about elections and opportunities to work in the polls. Place said staff are meeting with children and adults in outdoor settings, but were looking for a way to transition to in-home meetings during the winter months.
Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher reported his office has been swamped with trying to keep up with new coronavirus cases. He said uncooperative individuals on the phone had affected morale.
Fisher recently added a new category to the COVID-19 dashboard called NON-COVID deaths, which the department explained as, “When a positive case passes away, but due to unrelated COVID-19 causes.”
There have been three NON-COVID deaths in Auglaize County, with 14 deaths related to COVID.
During his presentation, airport Manager Ted Bergstrom said the new terminal would be open soon and was undergoing a final walkthrough. A grand opening is scheduled for 2021.
Beth Miller, program director of the Auglaize County Extension Office, said the office is now once again open five days a week and 4-H school programs are bringing educational kits into classrooms.
Waste District Director Scott Cisco announced a tire collection would be held Nov. 7 at 15502 St. Marys River Road. Tires will be collected at 9 cents a pound.