NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2006

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, March 9, 2006. The meeting was called to order by Vice Chairman Richard Cromwell. Also present were Commissioner Otto L. Nicely; Becky Wagner, County Administrator, and Lyla Gurwell, Clerk.

8:30 A.M. General Session - The Commissioners were presented with various resolutions and documents for approval. Commissioners also reviewed agenda items, discussed upcoming meetings and reviewed and updated the calendar of events.

Landowners that will be affected by the Highland Ditch project came in to discuss issues related with the project. The owners are not objecting to the project being constructed. The landowners did have questions regarding the way they are assessed and the way the brush credits are figured. The landowners may have further conversation with Defiance Soil & Water as well as the Commissioners to assist them in understanding the calculations that are determined based on the policy of the Soil & Water Board.

10:00 A.M. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, submitted her report to the Commissioners.

Becky informed the Commissioners of an Upcoming meeting scheduled for March 13, 2006 with Tom Wilson of Peck, Shaffer, & Williams and Roger Vincent of Chancellor Health Partners. Chancellor Health Partners would like the support of the Commissioners to build an assisted living facility in Defiance County. The proposed property would be on SR66 ad Carter Road in Defiance Township and would be a 60 bed assisted living facility with 50 independent units. This facility could also create 30-35 jobs in Defiance County.

Also discussed doing Request for Qualifications (RFQ’s) for the Elliott Road project – waterline/ sanitary sewer line extension. Dennis Miller with Maumee Valley Planning has indicated that he will handle compiling the information for publication by the end of the week. Dennis will also review the qualifications and set up a time come in to present them to the Commissioners.

The Board will be appointing an ADA Compliance Coordinator. Becky will be appointed as the Coordinator and Joanne Goerlitz will be appointed the alternate Coordinator in Becky’s absence.

Becky also reported the traffic area of the walking trail will be marked and the pedestrian walkway signs will be posted. The signs will be posted on March 17^th and the ribbon cutting and grand opening will be on April 3^rd at 12:00 noon. Rich Cromwell has indicated he may be available to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Becky also reported meeting with the Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Cereghin to view the Maintenance Building project. Becky reported the painting is just about done and Ron felt the contractor is on schedule.

10:30 A.M. Tim Houck, Landfill Director came in with Mannik & Smith to discuss the 5 acre parcel of land available for construction for the expansion at the Defiance County Landfill.

Mannik & Smith reported that there are a number of technical issues that need to be resolved but also mentioned what they have seen and the feedback they have received from the engineers and the geologists have been favorable.

Mannik & Smith also reported they feel very comfortable with the geotechnical portion and all of the site criteria issues have been resolved with the Environmental Protection Agency.

The permits will be issued as soon as the engineering and the environmental paperwork are approved, Mannik & Smith are very hopeful construction of the new phase will begin on this new phase this year but also mentioned they are approximately 1-2 months away from receiving the necessary responses back from the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Commissioners were reminded that Mannik & Smith have never had to shut down a landfill facility and they always have contingency plans in place for these types of instances.

News Release Approved: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner