New transit survey authorized
Firm hired to help analyze needs and resources
Medina County commissioners (from left) Adam Friedrick, Pat Geissman and Bill Hutson have authorized a new survey transit resources and needs in the area. Photo by GLENN WOJCIAK
MEDINA – A new survey authorized by Medina County commissioners Feb. 6 is aimed at analyzing transit needs and resources.
Commissioners approved an agreement with Proximity Marketing to pay the firm $7,500 to conduct the market survey in an effort to help commissioners better understand the significant transportation needs of key population groups.
“We want to take a closer look at the transportation resources available in the county and where the demand is to see if we can better align the two areas,” said Commissioner Bill Hutson.
Hutson said there are a few different entities, both public and private, operating buses to transport clients around the county in addition to the buses operated by Medina County Public Transit. Key population groups relying on transit services are older adults, the disabled and some in workforce programs.
Hutson said the hope is that some duplication of services can be eliminated and more passengers can be transported on fewer buses, a result that could lead to greater efficiencies and less revenue loss.
Dangerous animals
County commissioners voted to dissolve Medina County’s Dangerous Wild Animal Response Team after the Ohio General Assembly repealed a law requiring counties around the state to create the teams.
The state law was enacted in 2013 after 56 animals escaped or were set loose at a Muskingum County Animal Farm the previous years. Sheriff’s deputies and others wound up shooting 46 of the 56 animals that were loose. The dead animals included a wolf, six black bears, two grizzly bears, nine male lions, eight lionesses, a baboon, three mountain lions and 18 tigers.
In the months afterward, Ohio set about trying to tighten the reins on exotic animal ownership across the state. The creation of the DWART in Medina and other counties was intended to provide a response plan and an added measure of safety to citizens should dangerous animals get loose in the area.
Gasoline purchase
Cuyahoga Landmark in Strongsville won a bid to sell the Medina County Engineering Center 7,000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline for $1.75 per gallon. Landmark’s price was the lowest of five bids for the sale. The price per gallon is up from the $1.34 the county paid for the bulk purchase of gasoline in February of 2017 and from the $1.56 per gallon it paid in September.
Still, the current $1.75 price marks a significant savings for the county which in recent years has ordered gasoline at prices of $2.74 per gallon in February of 2014 and $3.20 per gallon in February of 2013.
Legal research
Commissioners have agreed to pay Attorney Candace Brown $40 an hour but no more than $7,500 to provide legal research assistance to inmate at the county jail this year.
Excess property
County commissioners declared a variety of vehicles and equipment excess property to be disposed of through trade-in or Internet sales.
Four buses and two vans owned by the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities were designated for trade in with values between $3,900 and $600. A 2009 Ford Goshen bus owned by Medina County Public Transit and 2010 Dodge Charger owned by the Sheriff’s Department were designated for Internet auction along with 10 Samsung tablets used by the Maintenance Department and a commercial coffeemaker owned by the Medina County Home.
Personnel expenses
Commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses was $1,600 for the new head of the maintenance department to attend a four-day program on Tracer System Controller Operation in Harrisburg, Penn.
Commissioners approved an agreement with Proximity Marketing to pay the firm $7,500 to conduct the market survey in an effort to help commissioners better understand the significant transportation needs of key population groups.
“We want to take a closer look at the transportation resources available in the county and where the demand is to see if we can better align the two areas,” said Commissioner Bill Hutson.
Hutson said there are a few different entities, both public and private, operating buses to transport clients around the county in addition to the buses operated by Medina County Public Transit. Key population groups relying on transit services are older adults, the disabled and some in workforce programs.
Hutson said the hope is that some duplication of services can be eliminated and more passengers can be transported on fewer buses, a result that could lead to greater efficiencies and less revenue loss.
Dangerous animals
County commissioners voted to dissolve Medina County’s Dangerous Wild Animal Response Team after the Ohio General Assembly repealed a law requiring counties around the state to create the teams.
The state law was enacted in 2013 after 56 animals escaped or were set loose at a Muskingum County Animal Farm the previous years. Sheriff’s deputies and others wound up shooting 46 of the 56 animals that were loose. The dead animals included a wolf, six black bears, two grizzly bears, nine male lions, eight lionesses, a baboon, three mountain lions and 18 tigers.
In the months afterward, Ohio set about trying to tighten the reins on exotic animal ownership across the state. The creation of the DWART in Medina and other counties was intended to provide a response plan and an added measure of safety to citizens should dangerous animals get loose in the area.
Gasoline purchase
Cuyahoga Landmark in Strongsville won a bid to sell the Medina County Engineering Center 7,000 gallons of regular unleaded gasoline for $1.75 per gallon. Landmark’s price was the lowest of five bids for the sale. The price per gallon is up from the $1.34 the county paid for the bulk purchase of gasoline in February of 2017 and from the $1.56 per gallon it paid in September.
Still, the current $1.75 price marks a significant savings for the county which in recent years has ordered gasoline at prices of $2.74 per gallon in February of 2014 and $3.20 per gallon in February of 2013.
Legal research
Commissioners have agreed to pay Attorney Candace Brown $40 an hour but no more than $7,500 to provide legal research assistance to inmate at the county jail this year.
Excess property
County commissioners declared a variety of vehicles and equipment excess property to be disposed of through trade-in or Internet sales.
Four buses and two vans owned by the Medina County Board of Developmental Disabilities were designated for trade in with values between $3,900 and $600. A 2009 Ford Goshen bus owned by Medina County Public Transit and 2010 Dodge Charger owned by the Sheriff’s Department were designated for Internet auction along with 10 Samsung tablets used by the Maintenance Department and a commercial coffeemaker owned by the Medina County Home.
Personnel expenses
Commissioners authorized the expenses for several county employees to attend a series of out-of-town meetings and training seminars. Among those expenses was $1,600 for the new head of the maintenance department to attend a four-day program on Tracer System Controller Operation in Harrisburg, Penn.
