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Wood County Commissioner Tim W. Brown has announced he will seek re-election in 2010.
“I intend to continue efforts to aggressively pursue new jobs and hold the line on the cost of county government,” he said during press conference held outside the First Solar building in Perrysburg Township.
“Our County is recognized throughout the region as a great place to live, work, obtain an education and raise a family,” Brown said.
He pointed to several economic development projects.
This year the Wood County Hospital unveiled its $42 million expansion and the hiring of additional healthcare professionals. CSX is building an intermodal facility that will employ about 200 workers with an investment of about $175 million.
With the support of the county commissioners, First Solar will see the completion of a $135 million plant expansion and the hiring of more than 100 new employees this year, he said.
He said the commissioners will continue to “hold the line” on the cost of county government.
“This year we reduced the size of county government by 5 percent,” Brown said. “We are doing what our citizens are doing - tightening the belt and cutting back. It is important that we remain frugal and conservatively manage tax dollars. We cannot allow ourselves to be in the position of asking our citizens to pay more when they have already cut back in their own family budgets.”
Nursing director named
The Wood County Board of Health has selected Amy Jones, RN, BSN as the new Director of Nursing.
Ms. Jones has been an employee of the health department since 1994. Initially serving as a public health nurse, she has been the Infectious Disease and Emergency Preparedness Nurse Coordinator since 2004.
The director position has been vacant since Dec. 15 when the previous director, Ann Smith left for another position. The decision to hire Ms. Jones was made after interviewing seven candidates.
“We have a lot of great people who provide important services to Wood County. I look forward to working with them to keep those programs going in the right direction,” Jones said.
Sold to Allatoona
Once again a vehicle operated by the Lake Township Fire Department will find a new home in Allatoona, Georgia.
A 1999 Ford ambulance vehicle that has been out of service for about three years and was kept by the department as a back-up, is being sold to the town of Altoona, Mark Hummer, township police chief and administrator, announced at last week’s meeting of the township trustees.
He said the price was $8,000.
Officials from Allatoona purchased a used 1992 International ambulance from the township several years ago after seeing it listed by the township on Ebay.
“They were the high bidder then and when they came to pick up the International the mayor saw the other ambulance and said we should let them know if we’re ready to sell that one,” Chief Hummer said. “Obviously they were satisfied with the first vehicle.”
He credits Fire Chief Todd Walters with remembering what town purchased the first vehicle.
The trustees last week approved the purchase of a 2004 Chevy Suburban for $18,165 from McNeil Chevrolet. The vehicle will be used to transport firefighters during emergency runs and training programs.
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