DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512 on Monday, May 12, 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 were Becky Wagner, Administrator; 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, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

At 9:30 a.m., Charlotte Williams and Bruce Fortier stopped in to speak to the Commissioners regarding a composting complaint with Garden Ridge Nursery, State Route 66 North. Area residents are concerned about the odors and health hazards due to the composting at that facility. They updated the Board regarding a meeting held last Thursday evening. They feel the situation, which began as a simple odor problem in the area, has escalated. The Health Department and the Ohio EPA are aware of the situation; however, the residents feel the Health Department is not as proactive concerning this issue as they should be. The Board informed them of a public meeting scheduled for Monday, May 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the Health Department which they are planning to attend.

Doug Engel, Sheriff’s Department, stopped in briefly at 10:00 a.m. to pick up a letter of support and signed paperwork concerning an Ohio Department of Criminal Justice Services Multi Area Narcotics Unit grant.

10:05 a.m. Gaylon Davis, County Engineer, met briefly with the Board to present his weekly update. He handed out the State’s list of road closures for the Board. Gaylon noted that his office addressed the situation of trees in the right-of-way in Evansport. His department is working on obtaining a cost analysis concerning the construction of the High Street interchange. Mr. Davis also noted that his department will be receiving over $4 million in federal funding for various road and bridge repairs/construction during 2003.

At 10:28 a.m. Commissioners entered EXECUTIVE SESSION regarding the Hiring of Personnel (ORC 121.22 (G) (1)). EXECUTIVE SESSION ended at 10:38 a.m. The Prosecutor’s office will be contacted for further information.

1:30 p.m., Morris Murray, Child Support Enforcement Director, met with the Board regarding his office’s lease. The Board approved the 2003 lease agreement for a monthly rental charge of $4,924.25.

After Morris left, Commissioners reviewed cost allocated maintenance salary expenses incurred for work at the One-Stop facility with Sherry Carnahan. The 2002 bill of $18,918 for expenses will be forwarded to the Job and Family Services department for payment.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 2:25 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner