DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, April 3, 2003. The meeting was called to order by Thomas Kime, Chairman. Present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime, Otto L. Nicely and Richard L. Cromwell. Also present was Alison Grimes, Clerk. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk. was present at the Defiance session.

8:30 a.m. General Session – Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions and documents, approved several travel requests and a hunting permission request, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events. At approximately 9:30 a.m., the group began the return to Defiance to continue with the remainder of the meetings on the agenda.

The Board of Commissioners discussed possible reductions in the Local Government Fund (LGF). For 2003, Defiance County was scheduled to receive approximately $806,674 in Local Government Funds and $152,037 in Local Government Assistance Funds. With the previous reduction of $63,748 that will go into effect June 30^th and the potential of losing 58% of the Local Government Funds in the next budget, the Commissioners estimate the County could lose over $580,000 in local government funding. This would be almost 6.2% of the total General Fund Budget that would need to be made up.

Commissioners also reviewed three quotes submitted by Ron Cereghin for the replacement of an electric panel at the Health Department. The following quotes were received:

Stollsteimer Electric $ 538.93

Defiance

Gustwiller Electric $ 820.00

Defiance

R. G. Electric $1,250.00

Defiance

Commissioners approved the Stollsteimer quote.

After returning to Defiance, Commissioners approved the sale of the current County van to Henry County for $17,000.00. It was not required to accept bids for the vehicle as it is a county to county sale.

10:15 a.m. Greg Reinhart, County Wastewater Operations Director, met briefly with the Board to review the sewer odor situation regarding several residents utilizing the Evansport sewer system. Greg submitted lab analysis data from samples that were taken on March 26 and again on March 31 showing that the odors were not generated by the sewage. Commissioners asked Mr. Reinhart to generate a letter to the landowners noting the results of the lab analysis and offering suggestions for alleviating the situation.

10:30 a.m. Mark Hopper and Julie Fowler, Public Safety Services, Captain Doug Engel, Sheriff’s Department, Chief Bill Wilkins, City of Defiance Fire Department and Charlie Weber, Noble Township Fire Chief, met with the Board concerning the DOJ 02 Equipment Grant. The group met to review equipment purchases they wish to make with the grant funding. The total grant amount is for $62,936.83 and the group discussed the items, their use and costs of the following:

Tent and water heater $24,000.00

Trailer $ 5,000.00

Radios $ 1,700.00

Masks $ 1,560.00

Cartridges (go with masks) $ 247.00

EMS contingency $ 4,000.00

Updated research materials $ 1,500.00

EMS contamination protection bags $ 2,800.00

Disposable towels and suits $ 500.00

Cooling vests $ 3,600.00

Air monitors (11) $18,000.00

Chemical tape $ 29.83

Total $62,936.83

The group requested and received approval to disburse the funds for the above items.

Mark also noted that the Public Safety Services facility would be getting an increase in their FEMA Emergency Management Performance Grant for 2003. Mark anticipates official notice of the exact increase in several days.

11:45 a.m. Commissioners left to attend a City/County meeting, hosted by the City, at Charlie’s Down Under to discuss various issues.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner