NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2010

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2010 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Chairman James E. Harris, Jr. called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Otto L. Nicely, Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Lanie Miller, Deputy Clerk.

The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents. The Commissioners also reviewed the calendar of events and discussed upcoming meetings.

The Commissioners received notification that the local grant from FEMA for local agencies in 2010 is up from $35,000.00 to approximately $41,800.00.

Laura Howell, Administrator, met with the Commissioners to provide her weekly update. Laura provided the following Department updates:

Environmental Services: Defiance County Environmental Services received a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions to Cell Phones for Soldiers. Due to the collection of cell phones to be recycled in Defiance County, ReCellular, Inc. donates so many minutes to soldiers from the cell phone contributions. The Bergquist Family received 960 minutes of talk time because of Defiance County’s efforts.

Dog Warden: Over 400 dog tags were sold in the Auditor’s Office on Friday, January 29^th.

Tina Hiler, Defiance County Senior Services Director, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Tina stated that June 11^th will be a Staff Training Day for the Senior Services. Senior Services is participating in the 98.1 Expo at Defiance mall February 12^th and 13^th. Senior Services is also helping to book appointments with an AARP representative for tax assistance.

Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group, met with the Commissioners to open bids for the Auglaize Sewer Project. Contract A, Lagoon and Pump Stations, had an Engineer’s Estimate of $2,900,000.00. The following base bids were received: Anderzack Pitzen - $3,188,000.00; VTF Excavation, LLC. - $3,181,250.0; Mosser Construction, Inc. - $3,679,400.00; B. Hill’z Excavating, Inc. - $3,447,900.00; D & R Earthmoving, LLC. - $4,543,731.20; Hanks Plumbing & Heating - $3,367,186.00; Helms & Sons Excavating - $2,984,900.00; Bruns Building & Dev. - $3,186,000.00; R.D. Jones Excavating - $3,492,920.00; Fechko Excavating - $2,836,262.77. Contract B, Sanitary Sewers, had an Engineer’s Estimate of $2,900,000.00. The following bids were received: Underground Utilities - $2,725,407.00; Vernon Nagel, Inc. - $2,975,984.00; Crestline Paving & Excavating - $2,930,000.00; Gleason Construction Co., Inc. - $33,725,611.50; Superior Excavating, Inc. - $4,405,013.00; MidSouth Utility Group, Inc. - $5,258,478.00; Hanks Plumbing & Heating Co. - $2,858,321.00; Degen Excavating, Co. - $3,170,018.35; JDR Excavating, Inc. - $2,784,841.50; Miller Contracting Group, Inc. - $3,027,905.50. The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and will award at a later date.

The Commissioners’ office will be closed on Monday, February 15, 2010 in observance of Presidents’ Day.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

James E. Harris, Jr., Defiance County Commissioner