NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, March 8, 2007, at 8:30 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, OH 43512.  Commissioner Otto L. Nicely called the meeting to order.  Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime, James E. Harris, Jr., Becky Wagner, County Administrator, Lyla Gurwell, Clerk and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk. 

 

General Session – The Commissioners were presented with various resolutions and documents for approval.  The Commissioners reviewed agenda items, discussed upcoming meetings, and reviewed and updated the calendar of events.

 

Defiance County Administrator, Becky Wagner presented her weekly update to the Board.  Becky discussed the Video Arraignment project.  The project was running behind as there were some details that needed to be worked out.  Becky advised the fiber optics will be run this week.

 

Becky also advised the Board that a new security system was being installed at the Defiance County Job & Family Services building located at Evergreen.  Once the new system is in place, only those with access will be able to enter the building without going through the front security area.

 

Becky also reported that Mike Koenig, Koenig Security & Electronics has ordered the equipment for the new telephone systems and has a tentative date to switch over the to the new system at the courthouse within the next couple of weeks.  All departments will be contacted to schedule training on the system.

 

Lisa Karcher from Maumee Valley Planning came before the Board for the first Public Hearing for FY07 (CDBG) Community Development Block Grant Formula Program. Lisa explained the guidelines for the CDBG Formula Program.  To meet the guidelines of the CDBG Formula Program, every project submitted for funding must meet at least one of the following National Objectives.  The project must benefit low to moderate income (LMI) person, and it should aid in the prevention or elimination of the slum and blight in the proposed area.  At least 50 percent of the households in the area that the project benefits must be low to moderate income to qualify as benefiting Low to Moderate Income persons.  If the benefit area is not at least 50 percent Low to Moderate Income according to the 2000 Census, the applicant must complete an income survey.

 

Construction or improvement of public facilities include senior centers, parks, playgrounds and other recreation facilities, centers for the handicapped, neighborhood facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, fire protection facilities and equipment preservation of historic buildings and creation of new public service or a significant increase in the level of an existing public service.  To discuss possible projects that might qualify, please contact Lisa Karcher at Maumee Valley Planning at 419.784.3882.

 

Lisa also indicated that applications must be made this year but the funding would not be available until 2008.  There is a new formula timeline that will need to be followed.  The first public hearing was held on March 5, 2007 with application being due to Maumee Valley Planning by 4:30 p.m. on April 13, 2007.  Awarded projects must be complete by December 31, 2008.

 

Norman Tadsen, Orville Clark, & Monica Hearne and Bette Mohr from the Master Gardeners came in to discuss Landscaping at Defiance County East Facility.  There were several quotes submitted for review by the Board.  The Commissioners approved the purchase of several plants for landscaping from DeMuth Nursery.  Mr. Tadsen advised that he would order the plants for this project.

 

 

 

News Release Approved:            ____________________________________________________                                                                       Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner