DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2005

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Room of Hicksville Village, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, April 7, 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 Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

8:30 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.

Mayor Larry Haver met briefly with the Commissioners to express concerns regarding the portable communications equipment for fire and rescue. The Commissioners reported that with the new communications systems being installed this year, communications should be improved throughout the county.

9:50 a.m. Commissioners return to Defiance.

10:40 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, reviewed a program through CORSA (County Risk Sharing Authority) to possibly offset some of the costs for the county’s liability insurance. She also reviewed the FY 2003 CDBG formula projects.

Commissioners awarded the bid for the Standridge Rail Spur Project to Diversified Road & Pipe, 6711 Providence Street, Whitehouse, OH in the amount of $272,847.75.

Commissioners Cromwell reported on a meeting he attended with the Bryan City Council on Monday evening concerning Rails to Trails project, which would involve a 5½ mile section between Ney and Bryan. This program (Ohio Rails To Trails) turns abandoned portions of railroad into usable bike/walking paths. ODOT will cover 80% of the project’s construction costs; but other sources must be found for the remaining 20% and design engineering expenses. RC&D and Maumee Valley Planning think additional grant funding is available for the 20%. Commissioner Cromwell told the Bryan City Council that the Commissioners weren’t interested in putting local funds into the project and they would drop the project if it can’t be fully funded by grants. He also explained that the County’s Environmental Services and work crew would take care of litter and provide waste containers along the trail. Bryan Municipal Utilities would continue spraying for weeds and trimming trees. As there is no charge for use of the trail, soverign immunity would apply. Several property owners attending the meeting were opposed to the trail. Bryan City Council voted against the project and were not interested in applying for grant funding.

11:00 a.m. Steve Flickinger and Linda Maag of the State Auditor’s office, along with employees from various county departments, met in EXECUTIVE SESSION [ORC 121.22 (D)(2)] regarding the County’s Entrance Audit.

There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 11:53 a.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner