DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512, on Thursday, January 27, 2004. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Otto L. Nicely. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Richard L. Cromwell; Becky Wagner, Administrator; Alison Grimes, Clerk and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

8:30 a.m. General Session Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents, approved several travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

Information was received from Soil and Water Conservation District that, during 2004, 36,531 trees were planted in Defiance County. The trees consisted of various hardwoods, pines and spruce trees. The total number of trees planted greatly surpassed the number removed.

Commissioners discussed the Hicksville Senior Center Access ramp project. Changes in state permit requirements must be completed before the project can proceed.

8:35 a.m. Judge Ruyle, Juvenile/Probate Court, stopped in briefly to speak to the Board requesting clarification regarding outside storage billing issues.

9:30 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly update at this time and informed the commissioners of the following information:

A pre-bid walk through of Defiance County-East will be held Friday, February 4 at 10:00 a.m.

The Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Cereghin, announced at the Supervisors’ meeting Tuesday that the County has used 7,000 pounds of salt just on the sidewalks this year. This amount does not include what has been placed on county parking lots.

A meeting was held with the Auditor, Treasurer, Administrator and Staff to review a tax program which could be utilized by both the Auditor and Treasurer. A financial total has not yet been received, nor have any decisions been made regarding the program.

The reverse 911 calling system was utilized during the recent flood and worked well. Complaints received from residents who did not receive the call were due to the fact that their phone number was unlisted. If residents with unlisted numbers wish to be included in the reverse 911 system, please contact the 911 Center at 419.784.1155.

Tim Houck, Solid Waste District Coordinator, is advertising for a seasonal, temporary secretary. The position should last through July, 2005. If interested, please send resume and references to: Defiance County Environmental Services, 500 Court Street, Suite E, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Applications will be accepted until February 11. The anticipated start date for this position is February 28.

The County, through the Environmental Services office, held a Christmas card recycling program. This year the office received approximately three times the amount of cards received in the previous year. The cards will be bundled and sent to St. Jude’s Hospital and are utilized there.

The State Auditor’s office submitted the bill for the additional costs incurred, over and above the normal auditing procedures, to complete the Senior Services audit. Total cost was $9,980.00.

10:30 a.m. Jerry Overmier, Beilharz Architects, Inc., met with the Board for an update on the County’s new facility – Defiance County East. Drawings and specifications are completed; bids are scheduled to be opened Thursday, February 17 at 10:00 a.m. The group reviewed the estimates for demolition and construction for the facility. For bidding information, please call Jerry Overmier at Beilharz Architects, Inc. at 419.782.6211.

11:00 a.m. Mickey Schwarzbek and Kathy Snow, Village of Sherwood, met with the Board regarding their grant application for Sherwood Park. Also attending the meeting was: Glen Vance, Linda and Dale Bennett and Sandy Schlachter. Kathy Snow gave a PowerPoint presentation showing the proposed revitalization of the Sherwood Park and noting the number of residents who would utilize it. The Board suggested she contact the Senior Center for a more specific break-down of age figures. The County will provide a letter of support that the Village of Sherwood can send in with their NatureWorks grant application. Sherwood will also hold various fundraisers to help offset project costs and local businesses are also financially supporting the project. Total cost of the project is estimated at $55,000.00.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner