DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512 on Thursday, March 20, 2003. The meeting was called to order by Thomas Kime, Chairman. Present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Otto L. Nicely. Commissioner Richard L. Cromwell is in Columbus attending several meetings. Also present were Becky Wagner, Operations Manager; Alison Grimes, Clerk, and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

8:30 a.m. General Session – Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions and documents, approved a travel request, signed paperwork for the third cruiser for the Sheriff’s Department, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

9:15 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly update at this time. Bob Arend, County Computer Consultant, informed Becky that the Veteran’s Department was implementing a data base of information on veterans which will be stored at the Defiance Public Library.

Amy Murphy, Family and Children First Council, notified Becky that the State Auditors will begin her department’s audit today or tomorrow. She will be meeting with the Commissioners Monday, March 24 at 11:00 a.m. to present her update.

Defiance College sent a survey regarding Northwest Ohio Business and Industry. They requested the Commissioners fill it out and return to them. The survey measures the College’s visibility among its influencers across the nation and its goal is to understand how area businesses and industries perceive Defiance College.

10:00 a.m. Gaylon Davis and Bob Bostelman, County Engineer’s office, met with the Board to open bids for the 2003 Paving of Various Roads Program and Issue II and LTIP Paving of Various Roads. Also attending the meeting was: Stu Overmier, S. E. Johnson Company; Barry Rosebrock, Ward Construction; and John Church, Gerken Paving.

Bids were received from the following for the Paving of Various Roads:

Proposal A Proposal B

Ward Construction NO BID $61,794.74

Leipsic, Ohio

Gerken Paving $ 925,233.50 NO BID

Napoleon, Ohio

S. E. Johnson $1,025,378.80 $97,011.83

Maumee, Ohio

Engineer’s estimate is: Proposal A - $921,536.80 and Proposal B - $68,197.29.

Commissioners accepted these bids as presented for further review.

Bids were received from the following for the Issue II and LTIP Paving of Various Roads:

Gerken Paving $678,256.00

Napoleon, Ohio

S. E. Johnson $718,598.35

Maumee, Ohio

Engineer’s estimate is $671,349.05

Commissioners accepted these bids as presented for further review. Gaylon will review the bids and present his recommendation some time next week.

10:15 a.m. Mike Boff, Soil and Water Conservation District, met with the Board to present his recommendation of the bid for the Platter Creek Project #95-4.

Bids were received on Monday, March 17 at 11:00 a.m. and were as follows:

George Gradel Company $ 795,684.25

Toledo, Ohio

Gleason Construction $ 842,235.00

Holland, Ohio

Miller Brothers Construction $1,254,098.25

Archbold, Ohio

Rosengarten Construction $ 678,827.20

Ottawa, Ohio

TimCor, Inc. $ 809,300.00

Defiance, Ohio

Vernon Nagel, Inc. $ 798,008.54

Napoleon, Ohio

Zenz Farms, Inc. $ 794,000.00

Delta, Ohio

The pre-bid estimate for this project is $865,725.00.

Mike recommended the bid be awarded to Rosengarten Construction, Ottawa, Ohio for $678,827.20 and the Commissioners approved. The project is slated to begin some time this spring and the completion date is March 1, 2004.

10:30 a.m. Tim Houck, Landfill Manager, met with the Board to present his monthly update. The Environmental Services department is beginning to change equipment over from snow plows to mowers.

Commissioners reviewed and signed the Solid Waste District report for February, 2003. In-district tonnage received was 4,207.33; Out-of-district tonnage received was 71.82 and Out-of-state tonnage received was 30.82. Total amount due to the Solid Waste District for the month of February is $4,412.61.

Summer hours at the Landfill began February 23. The Landfill is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 5,075 tons of waste was brought to the Landfill in February. Tim updated the Commissioners on the status of various work orders with Mannik and Smith Group. Tim is running ads in six different area newspapers to solicit business for the Landfill. Negotiations are in progress for the purchase of additional land for the expansion of the Landfill.

Regarding the Environmental programs – the new DLP&R campaign is “Plant Pride, Not Litter”. April is “Clean Up Ohio” month. Parks are scheduled for clean-up April 5 and some time in April there will be an appliance recycling drop-off, a clothes recycling and computer recycling. The Litter & Recycling Recognition Breakfast is scheduled for April 25 at Defiance College. Lynn Wachtmann will be the featured speaker.

School litter presentations are scheduled to be completed by the end of April. 1,200 students in 52 presentations received information about litter and the benefits of recycling.

Road collection is slightly behind but will catch up when the weather improves. Tim also reminded the Commissioners that the next Solid Waste District meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Paulding County will be the host.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner