PAULDING COUNTY, OH – The Paulding County Mayors Association was able to reconvene their quarterly meeting. For the first time in a long time all 11 Paulding County villages were represented at the same meeting that was held at the Paulding County OSU Extension building at the fairgrounds.
The meeting was called to order by the County Mayors Association President, Mayor Greg White of Paulding, with the Pledge of Allegiance. Roll call was taken and many guests were acknowledged. Some villages had council members represent and all villages were invited to bring their fiscal officers.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey asked the mayors to continue to develop their goals and strategies for infrastructure needs. He explained that if we can get a “Top 5” list of projects from each village that we could put them all together on a spreadsheet and let the mayors of the county view them and rank them by need. In doing this and adding a tentative timeline, the county may be able to get better funding in committing the majority of funds toward one large project in the county rather than spreading funding out over two or three projects each year. The mayors have been asked to submit their list prior to the next meeting.
Continuing with the collaboration discussion, Copsey also brought up the need to think about collaborating on projects. Rather than having two neighboring small villages invest in new water or sewer plants, can we run a line from the reservoir and have good water flowing all the time? Not only would it save costs on water plant operators it could also open up a lot of area supplied by municipal water and provide opportunity for further economic development. It would take more than collaboration from the villages involved, it would also include discussion with township officials. The development of a water district would put Paulding County in the same development discussions with surrounding counties that have already made this move, and put us ahead of those counties that haven’t. Discussion will continue.
Paulding County EMA Director Ed Bohn presented the group with the tentative maximum amounts each village could possibly receive from the American Rescue Plan. Ed noted that county and village distribution will come directly from the federal government. If the townships also receive funds they will come directly from the State of Ohio. Although there is not a definitive list of what these funds can be used for, there was great discussion on tentative uses and projects these could not be used for.
Paulding Commissioner Roy Klopfenstein gave a history of the PC Land Reutilization Corporation and where it stands today including listing the board members: Roy Klopfenstein, Commissioner Mark Holtsberry, County Treasurer Lou Ann Wannemacher, Mayor Greg White and local businessman Mike Kauser. Roy wants the mayor group to continue to think aboutpossible properties to submit for the PCLRC. Roy also took the time to follow up on some of the information Ed had presented.
Each mayor was provided time to bring up any thoughts or questions to the group. There was discussion about condemning properties and social services network connections that could be better utilized. It was also brought up that discussion should begin early with PC EMA on flood and railroad mitigation.
Tim Copsey rounded out the meeting bringing up workforce development and the need for good village utility workers from around the county. Tim suggested that if any mayors or councils have suggestions on putting a training program together that there could be training help from NW State Community College or Vantage and funding help from Ohio Means Jobs. Tim also noted that Maumee Valley Planning is a valuable resource that all villages should be using in any project or funding discussions. The next quarterly meeting will take place in July.
