DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session 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 Monday, March 28, 2005. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Otto L. Nicely. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Richard L. Cromwell; Becky Wagner, Administrator; and Alison Grimes, Clerk. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk, was absent.

8:30 a.m. Russ Herman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Board to review documents sent to his office for approval. Currently, Mr. Herman is up-to-date on county documents.

9:00 a.m. General Session Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents, approved several travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

Commissioners reviewed the possibility of obtaining grant funding from the US Army Corps of Engineers through the Water Resources Development Act of 1999. This act provided authority for water-related environmental infrastructure projects on publicly held lands for the entire State of Ohio. The possibility of approximately $500,000 may be obtained for the Auglaize Sewer Project in Defiance County.

10:00 a.m. Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Board with his weekly update. He obtained signatures on the title sheet for the replacement of the Breininger Road Bridge, north of Jericho Road. He also informed the Board that the Egler Road Bridge, north of Gerken Road will be replaced by Force Account.

Finally, Mr. Schlatter submitted his recommendations for the awarding of the Issue II and LTIP Paving and Paving of Various Roads projects. The Board will review the recommendations and award the bid next week.

10:30 a.m. Todd Gibson and Susan Payden, Squire, Sanders and Dempsey, met with the Board for a public hearing regarding a bond issue with ProMedica. Also attending the hearing was: John Horns, Defiance Regional Medical Center. No one else from the public attended. A total of $175,000,000 in tax exempt bonds is being issued for the benefit of ProMedica facilities in various counties. As a portion of the money is being spent in Defiance County, a hearing was held for public input. After a brief review of the project the Board approved the authorizing of a supplement agreement with Lucas County for the issuance of the bonds.

11:00 a.m. Lisa Karcher, Maumee Valley Planning, met with the Board to open bids for the Hicksville Senior Center Access Ramp project. Also attending was Jerry Overmier, Beilharz Architects, Inc. No bids were received. It was thought that the scope of the project is more expensive than the original estimate, therefore local contractors are not bidding on the project.

$20,000 in Formula funds has been set aside for this project; the money can be used for other projects, but this specific project can not be extended. The Board will review other funding use possibilities.

1:30 p.m. Karen Tubbs, Jean Ziegler and Tim Houck met with the Board for the first quarter, 2005, Investment Advisory meeting. Sherry Carnahan, Deputy Clerk, also attended this portion of the meeting. After review, it was found that all county investments were in order.

1:45 p.m. Russ Herman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney and Jerry Hayes, Economic Development, met with the Board to review documentation regarding the Standridge Railroad Spur project. During the meeting the Board called Poggemeyer Design Group who clarified some of the information.

3:00 p.m. Jerry Overmier, Beilharz Architects, met with the Board for an update concerning Defiance County-East. Ron Cereghin, Maintenance Supervisor, also attended. Jerry reviewed work completed to-date on Defiance County East. Interior sections have been demolished and framing has begun. Drywall has also been installed in some areas. Estimated completion of this project is August.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner