DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 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 Thursday, January 30, 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. General Session – Commissioners reviewed the day’s agenda and agenda items, discussed upcoming meetings and the calendar of events, signed various resolutions presented by the Clerk and reviewed information each received at various meetings they attended last week.

Commissioners also discussed the upcoming “Seniors With A Heart” Auxiliary Auction. The Defiance County Senior Services Center is hosting the auction and it is scheduled for Saturday, February 1 at 11:00 a.m. It will be held at the City’s Perry Street facility and will be televised on DCTV Channel 5, the local cable channel. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Senior Center’s Building Fund.

9:30 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly update at this time. She informed the Commissioners that she received information from Mark Hopper, Public Safety Services Coordinator, noting that the County has been approved by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation for a Level 2 discount. This allows the County to receive a 15% discount in premiums.

She also updated the Commissioners regarding Wednesday’s Family and Children First Steering Committee meeting. She noted that Family & Children First are working closely with the State Auditors to assure they are in compliance with their reports and paperwork.

Ms. Wagner submitted information and a request she received from Cheryl Timbrook, Clerk for the Common Pleas Court, for a new recording system for the second floor courtroom. Cost of the system is $2,995. The recording system in that courtroom is old and quit functioning and they are currently using a loaner. Commissioners approved the purchase.

10:30 a.m. Jerry Hayes, Defiance County Economic Development Director, met with the Commissioners to present several Enterprise Zone Agreement amendments. The first was for Commercial Intertech Corporation, located in Hicksville. The amendment consisted of a company name change only – to Parker Hannifin. All other portions of the original agreement remain the same.

The second amendment was for Cooper Industries, Inc./Cooper Power Tools, also located in Hicksville. This amendment decreased the original job creation commitment number of full-time permanent employees from 29 to 9. This amendment change also has no effect on the remainder of the original agreement.

Commissioners approved both amendments.

1:30 p.m. Otto Gerdeman and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group, met with the Commissioners with a projects update. Also attending was Greg Reinhart, County Wastewater Operations Director.

The group first discussed the Clayfield Addition Sewer System. It was felt that County policy was violated as this system was not inspected as it should have been. Poggemeyer was requested to send a letter to the contractor (Lingvai) stating this and noting that hook-up will not be allowed until the inspection is properly completed and approved.

Christi Meadows Wastewater Treatment Plant closure plan On January 15, Poggemeyer held a conversation with Al Rupp of the OEPA. He sent a letter which was received on January 21, 2003 approving the concepts of the closure plan.

Ken Maag submitted a Change Order #1 from the contractor, Anderzack-Pitzen Construction, regarding the Express Sewer Project, as there will be no major under-pavement boring or repair regarding Section A of the Express Sewer Project. The change order is a decrease of $4,030.00. Commissioners approved the change order.

Indian Bridge Lane Sewer Project – Ken Maag is waiting for the final plans to come back from the City. He is hoping for a final approval from the City by February. Information has been sent to Rural Development, as per their request. The environmental study should take 45 to 60 more days before an answer is received

Evansport Wastewater Treatment Plant – Bids for a portion of the work on the treatment plant are in and appear to be better than the previous bidding process. Lingvai is low bid, coming in at $9,400.00 and, if awarded, is ready to begin any time. Commissioners approved the award contingent that funding is available and the contract is reviewed and approved by the Prosecutor’s office.

Evergreen Wastewater Treatment Plant - received approval from OEPA to submit the paperwork for the PTI (Permit To Install). It will take 30 to 60 days to receive a response once the paperwork is submitted. Commissioners agreed that Poggemeyer should begin the process to submit the PTI.

At 2:34 p.m., Commissioners entered EXECUTIVE SESSION regarding Personnel [ORC 121.22 (G) (1)].

Commissioner Nicely left at 3:35 p.m. to attend an Area Office on Aging meeting in Toledo.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ended at 3:40 p.m.

Today’s meeting ended at 4:10 p.m.

Approved for news release: __________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner