New flagpoles at courthouse site promised to Seneca vets

Demolition continues at the Seneca County Courthouse on January 23, 2012. THE BLADE/AMY E. VOIGT Enlarge | Photo Reprints

TIFFIN — Seneca County Commissioner Dave Sauber has promised the United Veterans Council that a new set of flagpoles will be erected at the soon-to-be-vacant courthouse site by Memorial Day.

The old flagpole, which stood between the 1884 courthouse and the statue of General William Harvey Gibson, was taken down before B&B Wrecking and Excavating of Cleveland began tearing down the courthouse Jan. 9. The U.S. flag hanging there was taken to the Seneca County Museum.

Jim Roberts, adjutant of the veterans council, which represents all the veterans' organizations in the county, told commissioners Monday that the group is making plans for its annual Memorial Day parade and service and hoped a new flagpole would be in place by that time. Part of the annual tradition, he said, is pausing during the parade in front of the courthouse to raise and lower the flag.

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Mr. Sauber assured him three flagpoles would be installed with lighting in the circular area where the Christmas tree is typically placed just north of the Gibson statue.

"I think it will add a lot of class back to the downtown area to see those flags flying," Mr. Roberts told the board.

Mr. Sauber said afterward that once plans and cost estimates are finalized, he intends to solicit funds for the flag project from area service clubs and other organizations that have expressed interest in supporting it. The three poles are to be for a U.S. flag, an Ohio flag, and a POW/MIA flag, he said.

Commissioner Ben Nutter said he was not opposed to spending county funds on the project, but Mr. Sauber said he believed he would get enough financial support from the community. He added that he hopes to have lighting installed for the General Gibson statue at the same time.

Also Monday, commissioners approved contracts for construction of a 24-bed juvenile detention center, which is being paid for in part with $1.8 million from the Ohio Department of Youth Services.

Studer-Obringer Inc. of New Washington, Ohio, was awarded the general trades and plumbing contracts for $2.06 million, Clouse Electric of Tiffin the electrical contract for $531,890, Warner Mechanical of Fremont the mechanical trades contract for $284,400, and Dalmatian Fire Inc. of Lewis Center, Ohio, near Columbus, the fire protection contract for $48,500.

Contact Jennifer Feehan at: jfeehan@theblade.com or 419-724-6129.