DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, March 6, 2003. The meeting was called to order by Thomas Kime, Chairman. Present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Richard L. Cromwell. Also present were Becky Wagner, Operations Manager; Alison Grimes, Clerk, Jan Heffelfinger, Hicksville News-Tribune, Chief Joe Stotler and Assistant Chief Doug Miller, Hicksville Fire Department. Commissioner Otto Nicely was attending a 911 meeting in Defiance.

8:30 a.m. General Session – Commissioners Kime and Cromwell attended a photo op regarding the purchase of a HAZMAT trailer. The Defiance County M.A.N. Unit provided the trailer. The Public Safety Services facility repaired, built shelves and painted the trailer before it was stocked with HAZMAT materials. It will be kept at the Hicksville Fire Station for use anywhere in the County. Both Chief Stotler and Assistant Chief Miller thanked the Commissioners for the trailer.

After the photo op, Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions and documents, approved various travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

Jane Tadsen, County Recorder, submitted her monthly report. During the month of February, her office handled 147 deed transfers, 424 mortgages and 463 releases. Total credited to the General Fund was $31,303.10.

At approximately 9:35 a.m., Commissioners and staff began the return back to Defiance.

10:10 a.m. Becky Wagner, Administrator, presented her weekly update at this time and noted the following: She had met with Ken Keller, First Insurance and Investments, Russ Herman, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and staff from the Auditor’s office to discuss HIPAA compliance issues.

She reviewed information with the Commissioners concerning the use of Municipal Court restitution workers in County offices. It was decided that, if restitution workers were needed, they could work at the Humane Shelter.

Becky reviewed information she received at the Maumee Valley Planning Organization meeting held last week.

Julie Fowler, Public Safety Services facility, is working with Five County Drug and Alcohol to provide training for the Drug Free Workplace Program. Offering this program is a requirement to keeping the County’s insurance rates low.

11:00 a.m. Liz Keel and Carol Guercio, Maumee Valley Planning, scheduled for this time, did not arrive until 11:20 p.m. Bobby Olashuk, Volunteer Connection, was waiting for his 11:30 a.m. appointment so the Commissioners asked him to present his information at this time. Mr. Olashuk, on behalf of The Volunteer Connection, is establishing the Defiance County Citizen’s Corps. The Volunteer Connection plans to create a “volunteer database” to match volunteer’s skills with citizen’s needs to provide support in regard to natural disasters or security breaches. For more information, please contact Bobby Olashuk at The Volunteer Connection.

11:40 a.m. Liz Keel and Carol Guercio, Maumee Valley Planning, then met briefly with the Commissioners to review the Fy2000 housing grants. Several projects were reviewed and Ms. Guercio updated the Commissioners on State funding cuts which may affect programs.

1:30 p.m. Doug Zimmerman and Steve Flickinger, State Auditor’s Office, met with the Audit Review Board to hold the Entrance Audit for the county. Also present were: Commissioner Rich Cromwell; Becky Wagner, Administrator; Russ Herman, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney; Jeff Strausbaugh, County Prosecuting Attorney; Warren Schlatter, Engineer’s Office; Sharon Scheuerman, Jill Little, Barb Lasek and Marlene Goodwin, Auditor’s Office; Jean Ziegler and Vera Willitzer, Clerk of Courts; Jane Tadsen, Recorder and Alison Grimes, Clerk.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 2:00 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner