Ohioannual Report

WoodCounty OHIO 2002 Annual Report 1 For the year ending December 31, 2002 2002 OHIO Annual Report www.co.wood.oh.us A Message from the Board of County Com mis sion ers OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ntinue to focus on assuring Over the past year much progress was made on several major projects and initiatives, as we co the stability of Wood County government. The Board of County Commissioners is the Society Board. Over the past several years, Perhaps the biggest news in 2002 was the state of Wood County’s economy. Despite the downturn in the nation’s economy administrative coordinator of County Gov- the Com mis sion ers have established a process and the severe strain on budgets in most of our surrounding counties, Wood County’s economy performed well.ssion Un em contin- - ernment and has direct oversight respon- whereby they meet in public session with ploy ment averaged below the state and national average and the Wood County Economic Development Commi sibility for 11 agencies and departments. every person that is appointed or reappointed ued to announce new and local business expansions. Wood County was one of only a few in Ohio whose sales tax revenues Together the Commissioners manage County to these Boards and Commissions. Citizen showed encouraging growth, allowing the Commissioners to move forward on a number of important infrastructure projects. funds, buildings and property, and also participation in local government is imperative ting benefi ted the Wood County serve as the County’s contracting and tax The County’s Aa3 bond rating was reaffi rmed twice in 2002. This excellent bond ra and these meetings provide an excellent op- saved our taxpayers authority. District Library in the fi nancing of the library renovation and expansion project. In addition Wood County portunity for the Commissioners to meet their $50,000 per year over a 10 year period through the refi nancing of fi ve County bonds. appointees, establish good lines of communi- With continued cation, and thank them for their service. ort, the State of Ohio, the County Engineer, and Commissioners are working to address problems In a cooperative eff emphasis on . Each partner in this effort allocated $150,000 in an initial The Commissioners remain pleased with associated with humped railroad crossings throughout the County public acces- the high level of cooperation and commu ni c- attempt to fund projects that will begin to ease this problem. sibility to County a tion among many County offi ces including the In an effort to continue accelerated progress on Countywide bridge renovations, the Com mis sion ers appropriated $1 gov ern ment, the Sheriff, Emergency Management Agency, and million dollars for use by the County Engineer. The Commissioners have contributed $4.3 million over a four year period in Com mis sion ers the Health Department, to assess the County’s order to fund bridge replacement and refurbishment for the safety of Wood County citizens. held Town Hall emergency preparedness procedures. A gift of $1.9 million from the Bordner Foundation to the Wood County Nursing Home in 2001 and 2002 will provide for meetings in posed of ceiling, fl oor and bath lifts was installed in 2002, and will several improvements at the facility. A lift system, com two locations to The Commissioners also manage the greatly reduce strain injuries for employees, ultimately reducing costs related to workers compensation claims, and provide a provide citizens County employee’s health insurance program Alvin L. Perkins safer, more dignifi ed means of lifting residents. the opportunity to with a monthly average enrollment of 280 project. This $2.2 million project will allow for expanded security in the bring questions or concerns before a formal singles and 591 families. Wellness programs Plans continued in 2002 for the Courthouse Atrium ex, as well as address critical building drainage and water damage meeting of the Board. The fi rst meeting was were provided for County employees and their future, as required by the State, for the Courthouse Compl held on February 19 in Perrysburg, while family members who were eligible for cover- issues associated with the plaza area and basement between the three buildings. This was made possible by the efforts of the second was held on September 17 in age under the Wood County Employee’s Group State Senator Randy Gardner, who helped to obtain $1 million through the State’s capital budget. North Baltimore. In addition, Open Forum Health Insurance. Active management of the The Wood County Records Center and Law Library offi cially sessions are included as an item on the health insurance program by the Employee opened in November 2002 at the Courthouse Complex. Com mis sion ers’ regular meeting agendas, Health Benefi ts Advisory Committee allows the million project that revitalized Construction of this $2.4 every Tuesday and Thursday, to provide County to offer employees an affordable health the historic Old Jail building, began in 2001. The adaptive constituents further opportunity to discuss insurance program. reuse of this building, located on the Courthouse campus, is re houses, issues with the Board. signifi cant because of the new function the structu as well as the fact that it is listed on the National Register of In concert with efforts to develop a As a means of “giving back” to the commu- Historic Places. Returning the Law Library to the Courthouse one-stop facility for agricultural services, to nity, County employees volunteered for and campus, as is required by law, will save taxpayers money be- be known as the Wood County Center for participated in several special projects. These cause the County will no longer pay rent to house this facility. Agriculture, the Commissioners continued projects include the United Way campaign, the to work with agriculture related entities to The Juvenile Court expansion and renovation project Spirit of Wood County Awards, blood drives, was completed in 2002. This $1.4 million project added promote this signifi cant sector of the Wood and canned food drives. County economy. This included working 5,288 square feet to the existing building including a second ing was updated in the renovation courtroom and of fi ce space, while approximately 8,000 square feet of the existing build with the Wood Soil & Water Conservation The annual fall United portion of the project. District in support of the establishment of Way campaign raised er than issue debt. The funds that buffer strips along stream and ditch banks For all of the major capital projects mentioned, the County was able to pay cash rath more than $31,000 throughout Wood County. Funding provided to benefi t United enabled these cash payments were the result of the previous robust economy in our County. by the County for these buffer strips, which d control the mosquitoes in Wood County was devised through a cooperative Way agencies in the A plan to combat the West Nile Virus an re able to are important for improving water quality the Commissioners. Last summer County residents we local area. An ad- effort between the Wood County Health Department and tment to place long lasting and wildlife habitat, is utilized in conjunc- ditional $1,049 was pick up free larvicide dunks at various locations throughout the County or ask the Health Depar standing water. tion with funding available through the raised during special briquettes containing mosquito hormone interrupters in areas of Conservation Reserve Program. Payments events, including the Plans for the Wood County Center for Agriculture progressed in 2002. This project will create a one-stop shop for are based on the fi rst 30 feet of buffer employee picnic and agricultural services including, Ag Credit, Farm Service Agency, OSU Extension, Agriculture Business Enhancement Center strips in a nine-township targeted area. James F. Carter chili cook-off. and the Soil and Water Conservation District. Wood County was granted $1 million for this project through the State of This commitment provides $20,000 annually Ohio's capital budget. for improved conservation efforts in Wood Other volunteer opportunities for County County. employees included: two blood drives, one Plans for the placement of one, and possibly up to four wind turbines on acreage owneden power by the initiative. Wood County Landfi ll in May and the second in September, which were initiated through a partnership with the City of Bowling Green, as part of their gre Another important drainage issue affect- ay 1, 2002. The collected a total of 73 pints of blood; and As part of the Ohio Bicentennial Celebration, a Wood County fl ag was introduced and adopted on M ing agricultural land was addressed through the Adopt-A-Pantry campaign, held April 15 County fl ag, the fi rst for Wood County, was designed by the members of the Courthouse Buildings and Grounds Committee. a cooperative effort among the County through 26, that gave employees the oppor- ally working to be proactive in our approach to County government. Engineer, Building Inspection, the Health With recent changes in our economy we are continu ing in tunity to donate canned goods to a food bank ead this annual report to see the many good things that are happen De part ment, and the Planning Commission. serving Wood County residents. We hope that you will take the opportunity to r your local government. With a primary purpose of ensuring the ood County. We also invite and encourage you to actively participate in W proper placement of driveway and culvert The Spirit of Wood County Awards program The Board of County Commissioners crossing structures, this group developed was held on September 14 at the Historical Wood County, Ohio a brochure, A Guide To Rural Residential Center, in conjunction with Wood County Day.

Load more