DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio, 43512, on Monday, January 13, 2003. Present at today’s meeting were: Commissioners Tom Kime, Otto Nicely and Rich Cromwell; County Administrator Becky Wagner; Clerk Alison Grimes and Deputy Clerk Joan Brown.

8:30 a.m. Commissioners met with Russ Herman, County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, to review any documentation pending his review. Currently, all documentation is up-to-date.

9:00 a.m. General Session – Commissioners reviewed the day’s agenda and agenda items, the calendar of events, signed various resolutions presented by the Clerk and reviewed information each received at various meetings they attended last week. It was noted that Calvin Bergman, Ney Oil Company, was reappointed to the Metropolitan Park Board. His term is effective January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005.

The County Humane Agent submitted his December 2002 report and noted the following: 100 complaints were received and investigated; 13 warnings and 5 citations were issued; a total of 2,241 licenses were sold; 1,771 miles were driven and 2,140 pounds of animals were transported to the Landfill for disposal.

Also received was the December 2002 Clerk of Courts report. The following titles were issued: 182 new car titles, 1,178 used car; 109 new trucks; 421 used trucks; 18 vans; 15 motorcycles; 23 manufactured homes; 19 trailers; 6 motor homes; 33 off-road vehicles and 10 watercraft. A total of $7,204.33 was taken in for titles.

10:00 a.m. Gaylon Davis and Warren Schlatter, County Engineer’s office, met with the Commissioners to present Gaylon’s weekly update. Also attending was Kirk Slusser, Ohio Department of Transportation. Mr. Slusser presented information regarding the Paulding County /Defiance County Route 24 Project and its status. ODOT is in the process of finalizing the last two studies; however there are still a few issues to resolve. One issue is the Route 469/24 bypass – ODOT wants to make it a full-system interchange (where vehicles will not have to turn off). Another issue is that the Amish feel the road should be wider to accommodate their buggies. Both issues are being addressed. ODOT is working with Jerry Hayes, Economic Development Director, to acquire economic development data for the area. Mr. Slusser presented plans of the proposed Route 24 structure for the Commissioners’ review which are still in draft form. ODOT is still reviewing traffic patterns to see if any other changes need to be made. Mr. Slusser noted that ODOT is hoping to have a public hearing in early summer 2003 regarding the project.

The group then discussed the Domersville / Elliott Road Project. Mr. Slusser felt the County would be better off handling the engineering on the project as ODOT may not be able to make the time constraint Defiance County will have in requiring its design. The County Engineer’s office is qualified and capable of handling the project. There will probably not be any federal funding available for this project. ODOT will plan a public hearing regarding this project in March or April 2003 as this is a high-priority project for them.

Finally, Mr. Slusser presented information regarding the proposed abandonment of the existing Route 24 and State Route 424 in Defiance and Paulding Counties. ODOT’s proposal is to abandon both and give them back to the respective counties. This abandonment is according to the Ohio Revised Code. The roads will not be abandoned until all of Route 24 is approved as a 4-lane highway.

Mr. Slusser will be setting up a meeting with Gaylon regarding Hire Road to discuss initial thoughts. He asked Gaylon to prepare a short presentation showing what the County wants. ODOT is looking to start this project in April 2003. Gaylon will review the information and get back to Kirk.

The Board will request an official written response from ODOT regarding all the information they received this morning.

For further information, please contact the Defiance County Engineer’s office at 419.782.4751.

11:10 a.m. Pat Slattery, a Fairboard member, stopped in to remind the Commissioners of the Fairboard meeting Tuesday, January 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Services facility as the usual notice was not mailed. He also asked if the Commissioners might have a used copier the Fairboard may have for their use. At the moment, the Board does not feel there is an available copier, but will check.

11:15 a.m. Jean Ziegler, County Clerk of Courts, met with the Commissioners to review a letter received from Frank Cultrider, Registrar’s Office of the State of Ohio regarding a request that Defiance handle Deputy Registrar duties (titles, licenses, exams, etc.). Jean asked for the Commissioners’ input and they discussed service issues, location, initial set-up costs and financial advantages/disadvantages. Ms. Ziegler felt she would need twice the title space she currently utilizes. She noted that the office would be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and there would also be Saturday business hours that would have to be considered as additional payroll expenses. The operation would provide a convenient, one-stop service for the public. Paulding County has offered to train personnel, if necessary. After discussion, the Commissioners were in favor of Jean taking on these duties. Jean needs to submit a business plan to Mr. Cultrider for his approval.

1:30 p.m. County Commissioners met with City officials Mayor Fred Schultz, Administrator Roger Reese, Finance Director Jeff Leonard, Law Director David Williams, Police Chief Norm Walker, Deputy Chief Tim Tobias, Sheriff Dave Westrick, 911 Communications Director Carol Armitage and Bob Arend, County Computer Consultant in EXECUTIVE SESSION regarding Personnel [ORC 121.22 (G) (1)]. EXECUTIVE SESSION ended at 2:38 p.m. No decisions were made during or after this meeting.

Today’s meeting ended at 3:34 p.m.

Approved for news release: __________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner