MEDINA COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Newsletter 144 N. Broadway St. Medina, OH 44256 (330) 722-9208 www.co.medina.oh.us Dispose of Medications Properly (DUMP) Update Medina County Commissioners Patricia G. Geissman (President of the Board) pgeissman@medinaco.org Stephen D. Hambley shambley@medinaco.org Adam Friedrick afriedrick@medinaco.org What’s Happening – 3/11/14 .Commendation .The commissioners commended Brent Pitz on earning the Eagle Scout Award, Boy Scouts’ highest honor. Upcoming Events Wadsworth First Night Celebration Saturday, March 15, 4:00-8:00 PM on the Wadsworth Square (rain or shine) Kick-off events for the year-long 2014 Bicentennial Celebration include The University of Akron Steel Drum Band, time capsule from 50 years ago, fireworks, food, games, and a special appearance by the Midlife Chrysler Band with Michael Stanley. Medina County Drug Abuse Commission (MCDAC) Director Brian Nowak said that the Dispose of Unused Medication Program (DUMP) has become very effective and vital to the community. There are 12 disposal boxes located at ten police departments, Sheriff’s Office, and Medina Hospital for people to drop off their unwanted, unused, and expired drugs. The program began in October 2011; over the past two and a half years, they have collected over four tons of medications. That is over 8,000 pounds of medications that have not found their way into the water supply, landfills, or in the hands of someone who might abuse them. Annexation Filed An Expedited Type 2 Annexation petition was filed in the Commissioners’ Office on March 5, requesting 280.2130 acres of land be annexed from Wadsworth Township to the City of Wadsworth. The property was the old brickyard on Wall Road. If there are no objections, the commissioners will review it on Tuesday, April 1, at approximately 10:00 a.m. during their regular meeting. Central Processing Facility Recommendation Amy Lyon-Galvin, Sanitary Engineer, reported that the Solid Waste Policy Committee held a meeting on February 19 and moved forward with the Technical Advisory Committee’s recommendations to keep the Central Processing Facility (CPF) as a public or private outreach and improve recycling extraction. The Sanitary Engineering Department is gathering information regarding the investments that would be necessary for equipment and repairs. They have obtained pricing from GT Environmental if they choose to have their assistance to move forward in either the specification preparations for the private bid or the analysis to show value for a public option, including the potential value of recyclable revenues and control over the operations. Mr. Hambley said that the EPA advised him that they will let him know within the next month that they will be be issuing various recommendations on updating the House Bill 592 solid waste regulations. The County Commissioners Association of Ohio (CCAO) Advisory Committee will be reconvened to evaluate those. He is on the CCAO committee and will keep them updated. Child Support Payment Printouts Easily Available Commissioner Steve Hambley paying tribute to his former teacher, Medina County Arts Council Executive Director Nancy Sprowls, at the Art Council’s Annual Awards Dinner. “If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I’d like to do Is to save every day Till Eternity passes away Just to spend them with you.” Jim Croce (1943-1973) Singer-songwriter Commissioners’ Contact: Pam Vereb, Clerk (330) 722-9208 pvereb@medinaco.org Email Pam to Subscribe The Ohio Child Support customer service portal allows customers with active child support cases a secure environment where they can view their child support case information on demand. Online, they can view their address, employment, health insurance, and support order information that is on file with the child support agency. Medina County Child Support Enforcement Agency Director Mike Pataky said that recent web portal updates allow clients to view and print up to two years of child support payment data. They previously had to call the agency to get printouts. For tax purposes, they can get the report quicker and they don’t have to rely on the agency to send it to them. The Ohio Department of Job & Family Services Office of Child Support continues to make the process easier for their clients and ultimately, children’s wellbeing. Grant for Seniors The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. The Office for Older Adults (OOA) Director Laura Toth announced that the Medina County OOA been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Council on Aging to use toward senior citizen SNAP enrollment. Over the course of the next year, they will inform seniors about the program and enroll them. While they will be enrolling in all areas of the county, the outreach workers plan to concentrate on the southwest corner of Medina County. They are collaborating with Medina County Job & Family Services and Feeding Medina County to accomplish the task. The Medina County OOA was one of 30 sites awarded this grant across the country and the only site in Ohio; the commissioners were very pleased. Volume 9, Number 10 3/11/14