DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2005

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Room of the Village of Hicksville, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, February 3, 2004. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Otto L. Nicely. Also present were Commissioner Thomas L. Kime; Becky Wagner, Administrator; and Alison Grimes, Clerk. Commissioner Richard L. Cromwell was absent and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk, was present for the Defiance portion of the meeting.

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.

The Board briefly reviewed the Recorder’s report. Jane Tadsen, Recorder, noted that during the month of January, the following instruments were recorded: 181 deeds, 208 mortgages, 240 releases, 2 leases, 2 power of attorneys, 1 soldier’s discharge and 1 plat. Total income for the month of January was $31,033.75 ($15,365.50 for Housing Trust Fund and $15,668.25 for General Fund).

Commissioners also signed a letter to Bruce Johnson, Ohio Department of Development, requesting a one-year extension of the designation of Defiance County as a situational distress area.

9:00 a.m. Representatives from A and P Tool, Inc., Pat Weidenhamer, Tony Nighswander, Mike Steyer and Hicksville Mayor Larry Haver met with the Commissioners to review updated information concerning their Enterprise Zone Agreement. Their expansion project of an additional 15,000 square feet and estimated at $700,000, is approximately 30% completed. They expect the project to be completed by mid-April. A & P Tool currently has 38 full- and part-time employees and plans to hire additional employees when the project is completed. Mr. Weidenhamer credited his staff and employees for the reason the company has made it through the recent rough years.

A & P Tool would like the Board to amend their Enterprise Zone Agreement due to their proposed employment number increase. As Commissioner Cromwell is absent, the Board will review this information on Monday, and let A & P know of their decision early next week.

9:35 a.m. Commissioners and staff began the return trip to Defiance.

10:00 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented the following items for the Board’s review. A heat pump at the Evergreen Lane complex needs to be replaced. A temporary pump is currently in place while the replacement is on order.

The bid opening for the Hicksville Senior Center access ramp is set for Monday, February 28 at 1:30 p.m.

The County Records Commission is reviewing records retention/disposal schedules for various county departments per new changes in Ohio Revised Code Section 149 which affect disposal of public records. Updated information will be sent to individual departments.

11:00 a.m. Rich Moutelle, Defiance City Schools Superintendent and Glenn Kuhn, YMCA Director, met with the Board regarding the issuance of revenue bonds for the benefit of the Defiance Area YMCA. The Y is a local, non-profit organization and would like to bond $700,000 to finance a portion of the construction of an addition to the existing facility located at 1599 Palmer Drive. The project will be approximately 10,825 square feet and will include gymnasiums and related space. The Y will own this section but lease this area to the Defiance City School District for use by the school. A Public Hearing regarding this issue is scheduled for Thursday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Conference Room.

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