NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, March 16, 2006, at 8:30 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, OH. Present were: Commissioners Thomas L. Kime, Richard L. Cromwell and Otto Nicely. Also in attendance: Becky Wagner, County Administrator, Lyla Gurwell, Clerk and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy 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.

The Commissioners received a Status Report from Morris Murray with Child Support Enforcement Agency for February, 2006.

The report included approximately 2,720 caseloads with orders and 161 without orders. The collections year-to-date as of February 28, 2006 were $1,280,746 and collections for the month of February were $625,372. The average collection per case was $229.

During General Session, the Commissioners spoke with Kirk Slusher with Ohio Department of Transportation regarding the release of the bids for the SR 24 Project from SR424 t SR15/18.

Kirk advised the bid letting previously scheduled for March 8, 2006 was rescheduled to March 22, 2006 due to the release of an addenda to the contract.

Kirk expects the bid will be awarded in mid April and will have a contractor beginning work on the project. Kirk also mentioned there should not be significant road closings and one lane in each direction will be open.

The SR15/18 bridge may have very minor closings during the day in late April or early May and any detours would be day time detours only which will be reported by the Ohio Department of Transportation as the project moves forward.

9:30 A.M. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, submitted her report to the Commissioners.

Becky reported the Manatron agreement for the new computers and software for the Auditors and Treasurers Offices will be up and running the first full week in May. May 3^rd will be the startup taxes with mobile homes on May 17^th.

10:30 A.M. Randy Vogel, Defiance County Dog Warden came in for his monthly update.

Randy reported his office issued 94 complaints of which 5 of those complaints were against Pit Bulls.

Randy also mentioned dog license sales at the Hicksville locations were currently at 235, sales by agency are currently at 582, sales through the Auditors Office are at 727 and 16 at the Kennel. Penalties issued are at 84.

Miles driven for the month stand at 2,313 and 720 pounds of euthanized animals were taken to the landfill.

Randy also reported 20 dogs were taken to the shelter. Randy also reported most of the dogs taken to the shelter are either claimed or adopted out.

At this point, Randy has the Deputy Dog Warden going door-to-door in Tiffin Township checking for licenses. License fees may be going up next year; at this point there has not been a rate determined for a fee increase. This will be further discussed at a later date.

Randy also reported that his office will be hosting this years Dog Warden Meeting on April 5, 2006 which will be held at the Emergency Management Building in Brunersburg.

11:00 A.M. Jeff Ankney & Mike Boff with soil & Water came in for the Adams Tile Ditch Objection Hearing. The Assistant Prosecuting Attorney was also present during the meeting to represent the

Board of Commissioners. Also present were attorneys from the office of Plassman, Rupp, Short & Hagans from Archbold representing the property owners.

Jeff Ankney and Mike Boff will be working on follow-up questions based on the outcome of the meeting and forward their findings to the Commissioners and Russ Herman for evaluation. There will need to be further discussion before a decision can be determined.

News Release Approved: _____________________________

Richard L. Cromwell, Commissioner