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Click on the link above for access to the Google Photos file. All photos are in the jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded to your computer for FREE.
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Click on the link above to access to access these photos in a Google Photos file. All photos are in a jpeg format to allow for editing and can be downloaded onto your computer FREE of charge courtesy of fultoncountymedia.com.
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To get ready for the upcoming U12 Fall Softball season, the Swanton Mad Dogz hosted a talented Bedford Lady Mules team in a scrimmage at Memorial Park on Thursday and came away with a very impressive victory. The Mad Dogz, coached by Amy Remer, Emily Avery and Lisa Ludlow, will be playing double-headers on Sunday afternoons this fall.
Click on the link above to access photos from the game. Photos can be downloaded to your computer for no charge. They are in a jpeg format that allows for editing.
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Click on the link above to access over 400 photos from the 25th Annual Swanton Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic. All photos are in a jpeg format which allows for editing and can be downloaded to your computer for free.
With school about to begin, the agreement below will be applied to all seven school districts in Fulton County.
FULTON COUNTY SCHOOLS’ COMMON OPENING AGREEMENT 2021-22
In collaboration with the Fulton County Health Department, our schools want to provide updated information on current plans for the start of the 2021-22 school year. Once again, we will be offering in-person instruction in accordance with our district calendars prioritizing the health and safety of students and staff. Due to emerging concerns with the Delta variant, these guidelines and recommendations are subject to change.
These general principles will guide each school district as they move forward with opening schools throughout Fulton County:
These principles will be common to all Fulton County public school districts:
Communications when a student/staff member has been diagnosed with a COVID 19 positive case.
In instances of positive cases, each district will communicate with the appropriate parties:
○ Communication will be shared per Health Department protocol. ○ The school district will cooperate with the Health Department’s work in contact tracing and quarantine requirements.
○ The Fulton County Health Department, consistent with statewide protocols, will define what is considered “exposure” to COVID 19.
● Anyone who has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 does NOT have to quarantine if they are exposed unless they are symptomatic.
● Any unvaccinated individuals wearing a mask and socially distanced at least three feet would not be subject to quarantine. ● Quarantine measures are still in place at the discretion of the health department for those who are unvaccinated and unmasked within six (6) feet for fifteen (15) or more accumulated minutes of someone with COVID-19. Food Service.
● All districts will offer food service. Logistics will be determined by each district and school building in order to maximize social distancing.
○ Students will be encouraged to sanitize their hands before and after lunch. ○ Cafeterias will be sanitized between lunch periods.
Classroom Occupancy.
● Safety protocols are in place but any student who attends school will incur some level of risk. Districts will decrease the likelihood of infection with hygiene, cleaning, and safety procedures.
● Students will be encouraged to sanitize their hands regularly.
● Classroom occupancy will be determined based on each individual circumstance with the maximum amount of safety considerations possible.
Face Coverings:
● Face coverings are strongly recommended and encouraged for unvaccinated students and staff. Face coverings may become required due to increased risk of COVID-19 in our community.
● Under current federal orders and accompanying guidance, students and staff are required to wear masks on school buses, whether vaccinated or not, until September 13, 2021, at which time the order may end or possibly be extended.
● Any unvaccinated individuals wearing a mask and socially distanced at least three feet would not be subject to quarantine.
Visitors/Volunteers:
● There are different levels of school visitors, and each district will make decisions for each situation.
○ Visitors are discouraged from being in school district facilities during school hours. ○ Safety precautions will be implemented for all visitors.
Transportation:
● Fulton County districts will allow two students per seat and in some instances three students if the children are younger and therefore smaller. ● Districts may attempt to seat siblings together. ● Seating charts are recommended to assist with contact tracing.
● Under current federal orders and accompanying guidance, students and staff are required to wear masks on school buses, whether vaccinated or not, until September 13, 2021, at which time the order may end or possibly be extended. Start and End of School Day.
● Measures may be taken to prevent students from congregating before and after school.
The Fulton County Schools’ Common Opening Agreement is subject to change throughout the school year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Jayson Selgo, Superintendent – Archbold Area Schools
Mr. Eric Smola, Superintendent – Evergreen Local Schools
Dr. Angela Belcher, Superintendent – Fayette Local School District Mr. Josh Clark, Superintendent – Pettisville Schools
Dr. Ted Haselman, Superintendent – PDY Local School District
Mr. Chris Lake, Superintendent – Swanton Local School District
Mr. Troy Armstrong, Superintendent – Wauseon Exempted Village School District
Mrs. Kim Cupp, RS, MPH, Health Commissioner – Fulton County Health Department
Village Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle reported to the Swanton Village Council at their August 9th meeting the Safe Routes to School Project is nearing completion. The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs aim to reduce automobile dependency by promoting safe walking and biking to school for children across the country and to encourage active transportation of its students. The planning for the Swanton SRTS began with the planning stages approximately four years ago and funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation for $402,000 was approved in 2018.
Construction began earlier this year with sidewalks installed on Crestwood, Elton Parkway, Harding and Church Streets. Also recently installed were the Z-gates at the Norfolk Southern Railway crossing on Main Street. The Z-gates have been designed to make pedestrians and bicyclists more aware of the railroad tracks.
In legislation news, the First Reading of Resolution 2021-XX, authorizing the Village Administrator to participate in the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Grant Program and to enter into any agreement as required was approved. Grant funds will be targeted for the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) design ($250,000 max award) and construction projects ($5M max award. Matching funds from the Village will improve the chances to obtain the grant funding.
In personnel news, Council approved the hiring of Nathan Keil as a member of the Swanton Fire and Rescue Division effective August 22, 2021 at an hourly rate of $15.20 contingent on successful completion of drug screening, background check and psychological exam.
Also approved by Council was the hiring of Katelyn Saunders as a part-time community development assistant up to 20 hours per week at a rate of $15.25 per hour pending clear pre-employment drug check and subject to a six-month probationary period effective August 23, 2021.
In other personnel action, a motion was made to terminate the employment of Steven Geise, Superintendent of the Water Resource Recovery Facility, effective August 9, 2021. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
The next Council meeting will take place on August 23, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. in the Swanton Municipal Offices at 219 Chestnut Street.
Pictured: Z-gates for the Safe Routes to School Project
In appreciation for the wonderful support local businesses have given to the Swanton Lions Club over the years, the Lions chose to return the favor this year by purchasing gift cards/certificates from 16 different small businesses and raffling them off in the community. Joe Kahl, a founding member of the Club, presented the idea to the members as a way to help local businesses during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The businesses were comprised of restaurants, retail shops, and sports and entertainment venues.
The drawing was held on the evening of the Swanton Corn Festival during the concert and the winning tickets were drawn by the lead singer of that night’s featured band, “Stirred Not Shaken”. The winners were as follows:
First Prize: Mark Jones of Delta (Mail Pouch Saloon-$100, Younique Boutique-$100, White Pines Golf Club-$50, Benfield Wines-$50, CK Sweets-$50, Tano’s Pizza-$50, Doodle Bean Coffee-$50, Posh Pallet Boutique-$50)
Second Prize: Jennifer Salyers of Swanton (KO’s Chinese Restaurant-$100, Valleywood Golf Club-$50, Pisanello’s Pizza-$50, Swanton Sports Center-$50, Benfield Wines-$50)
Third Prize: Candy Smith of Toledo (Wings Station-$50, Sew Beyond Blessed-$50, Old El Camino-$50, Fessenden’s Hardware-$50)
The Swanton Lions Club would like to thank all who supported this raffle and, in turn, supported the Swanton business community. Their next Lions community event will be the annual “Halloween Hoopla” on Saturday, October 30, 2021 on Main Street in Downtown Swanton.
In April of this year, Mark Foertmeyer of Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse spoke before the Swanton Village Council during public hearing to dispute a monthly storm water utility charge that was initially increased from $3.00 to $589.89 after it was discovered the business was mistakenly being charged the standard residential rate instead of the calculated commercial rate. The new rate was based on a survey of the Foertmeyer property which found over 168,000 square feet of impervious area (structures, parking lots, roadways) and the assumption was made that all the rainfall drained into the Village’s storm water system. Village Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle was allowed to grant the greenhouse a maximum 30% discount to lower the charge to $412.92 but not as low as Mr. Foertmeyer believed was fair.
According to Mr. Foertmeyer, the method the Village used to calculate the impervious area was basically using measurements taken from a Google Maps photo of the property and not an actual survey to determine the flow of the water. “I think if we can come up with a number that is accurate then we will have a fair assessment,” he said. “If we can take the time to find a correct number, I think we can certainly move together and do what we need to do to finance the sewer system.” He agreed to have a more thorough survey done and provide the Village with those findings. The Council agreed there should be more research on the matter and future payments would be halted until the issue was resolved.
At the August 9th Council meeting, Councilman Dave Pilliod said he wanted to see some movement on the issue since Foertmeyer had yet to provide the Village any survey information and was still not paying any storm water fees. “I propose to Council tonight that we begin to bill them $200 a month. Then, if they object to that, we will certainly look at all the facts they have acquired and bring to us,” said Mr. Pilliod. “But I think it’s unfair for them not to be paying anything until we get this resolved.” After Mr. Pilliod suggested charging Foertmeyer at 33% the original calculated rate, Councilman Craig Rose recommended the number be increased to 50%, approximately $295.
Village Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle told the Council that Foertmeyer had recently informed her that they received a (storm water) flow map from Natural Resource Management, LLC. She recommended the Village hire an engineering consulting firm, one which with they are familiar, and have them study it to see if they agree with the data.
A motion to start billing Foertmeyer & Sons $294.50 per month in September was approved. The Council agreed to that the charge would be adjusted once all the numbers and been received and verified.
Pictured: Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse on Hallet Ave
A Master Plan Presentation of detailed findings of an investigation of Swanton’s Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) was presented to the Village Council during their August 9th meeting by representative of Fishbeck, a firm of Engineers, Architects, Scientists and Constructors. An overview of the scope of the investigation showed that The Village owns and operates a collection system consisting of approximately 34,000 lineal feet of combined sewers with 135 manholes as well as approximately 106,000 lineal feet of sanitary sewer with 452 manholes. The collection system directs combined and sanitary sewage to the WRRF, which utilizes two biological treatment processes to treat a maximum of 2.76 million gallons per day (MGD) prior to discharge to Ai Creek. The original WRRF was constructed in 1956 with major expansions taking place in 1972 and 2010.
The reason for the investigation was explained in the Introduction of a 57-page report provided to the Village. The Introduction stated, in part: In July of 2020, the Village of Swanton (Village) solicited proposals for professional engineering services to assist the Village with implementation of influent screening improvements. During the solicitation process the Village determined that a broader investigation of the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) was warranted. As such, the Village elected to prepare a Master Plan for the WRRF. This report provides the requested master planning for the facility. The Master Plan for the WRRF was developed based on the following tasks: Data Collection and Review, Staff Interviews, Condition Evaluation and Alternatives Development.
The report recommended upgrades that could take place, mainly within five years but also out as far as 50 years. The Five-Year Improvement Plan would include: Screening/Headworks Improvements, Stormwater Retention Lagoon Refurbishment and LC-2 Replacement, Phosphorus Removal Building Eyewash Station, Concrete Restoration and Power Distribution, LC-5 Tertiary Building and Chlorine Contact Tank, LC-6 Primary Tanks and Digester, LC-7 and LC-8 Chemical and Control Buildings.
The estimated cost for the Five-Year plan is $11,683,745 with approximately 50% of the total coming very early in the project. Funding options were discussed and Village Administrator Rosanna Hoelzle will be applying for grants through Fulton County and the State of Ohio. The Village will also be expected to cover a portion of the overall costs. No decision was made on whether to implement some or all of the recommended upgrades or when the project might begin.
Pictured: Swanton Waster Water Treatment Plant
Fulton County Ohio Media 