NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2006

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 Thursday, April 13, 2006. Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioner Otto Nicely, Lyla Gurwell, Clerk and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk.

General Session – 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 met with the City Board of Control to discuss various issues. The Commissioners discussed the Sub-Sewer District #2 Agreement between the County and the City of Defiance. The agreement expired on January 31, 2000 and has not been renewed since that time. The City does not want to renew the contract with the County and the City will be charging the Sub-Sewer District #2 the standard City outside sewer rate which will be approximately 2 ½%.

Also, discussed the Rt. 66 Widening Project and if the County would be interested in participating in this project with the City and expanding the project beyond Elliott Road. No decisions were made at this time.

The City of Defiance has petitioned the Commissioners to vacate Winn Road from Canal Road to Kibble Road. Further discussion will be held with the City of Defiance and the Defiance County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney to determine method to be used to vacate road.

Kirk Slusher, Ohio Department of Transportation met with the Commissioners and the City Board of Control for an update on the Hire Road Rail Separation Project. Mr. Slusher stated that the railroad grade separation project is currently a Tier 2 project and funds are no longer available in this program. Discussion included selecting a preferred alternative. The preferred alternative would be Hire Road or the Florence Road project. The Program Manager will be making a determination sometime in June, 2006 as to which projects will and will not be funded. The Commissioners instructed Mr. Slusher to move forwarded on a preferred alternative.

Kirk Slusher informed the Commissioners that the Defiance 24 Reconstruction Project that goes from SR 424 up to SR 15/18 has been awarded to a contractor. There will be a pre-construction meeting on April 25, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. The County and the City will be invited to this meeting. Mr. Slusher also mentioned that they are tentatively planning a ground breaking ceremony for May 3^rd at 1:00 p.m. to be held at the State Highway Garage.

News Release Approved: ______________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner (by Lyla Gurwell, Clerk)