DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Room of the Village of Hicksville, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, June 5, 2003. The meeting was called to order by Thomas Kime, Chairman. Present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and Otto L. Nicely. Also present was Becky Wagner, Administrator, and Alison Grimes, Clerk. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk, was present during the meetings held in Defiance.

8:30 a.m. General Session – Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions 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.

The Board of Commissioners has hired a Director for the Department of Job and Family Services. Dennis McKay, previously with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Toledo, replaces Susan Jackson, Interim Director. Mr. McKay began his duties Monday, June 2.

9:00 a.m. Commissioners met with Barb Donley, Director of the Hicksville Community Center, to donate one of the County’s used computer for the Center’s use. The Center had no computer before this donation. Jan Heffelfinger, Hicksville Tribune, snapped several pictures for the paper. Everything at the Hicksville Community Center has been donated by various agencies or individuals. Other agencies also utilizing this facility include WIC (they service 136 families in Hicksville), the health department, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Head Start and Relay For Life, to name a few.

At approximately 9:30 a.m. the meeting recessed in Hicksville and the group began the return to Defiance.

10:10 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her report to the Board at this time. She reviewed information she obtained in various meetings during the CCAO/CEAO Summer Conference, held in Dayton June 1 through 3.

11:00 a.m. Bruce Clevenger and Barb Rohrs, OSU Extension Office Director, met with the Board to present their department’s first quarter report. Barb reported that 45 people attended the Building Babies Brain conference. This conference addressed the myths and realities of brain development in young children.

55 people attended weight management programs which addressed changing habits, exercise and portion sizes.

The family Nutrition Program presented 22 educational sessions for 130 participants. Topics covered included: Keeping Food Safe; Size Up to Servings; Fiber Facts; Give Your Bones A Break; Pack It Right and Folic Acid. 360 newsletters are distributed monthly.

Five families completed a first-time home buyer’s education course, enabling them to participate in a program to assist with down payments and the ability to afford a home.

Bruce noted that , during January, February and March, over 200 phone calls and/or personal visits were made to his office. The calls requested information on crop and livestock production, pond management and/or farm management.

The OSU Extension is conducting research to write the Defiance County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan will include a hazard analysis, risk assessment, and action plans to prevent personal injury and\or property damage to the citizens of Defiance County. Once the plan is completed, Defiance County will be in a better position to apply for and receive Federal Emergency Management Agency grant dollars to prevent damage and losses associated with natural hazards.

Water Quality and Sub-Irrigation are two topics researched and taught locally in Defiance County. 53 farmers, agronomists and crop consultants participated in training workshops taught by the Extension Ag/NR agent.

The 2003 class of Master Gardeners have completed their 50 hours of horticultural training. A local horticulture hotline is staffed Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the Extension Office. Call 419.782.4771 with questions.

11:30 a.m. Jerry Overmier, Beilharz Architects, met with the Board to review information concerning the Fairgrounds Beef Barn building. Also attending were several fair board members. The open bids date for the project was extended to Thursday, June 12 at 11:30 a.m. Jerry reviewed the specs regarding the 3 types of buildings being bid (all steel; all wood and a Morton-type building) and various alternates so fair board members would be well informed before the bids were opened.

1:00 p.m. Julie Fowler, Public Safety Services, Kelly Lowry, Comp Management and Russ Herman, County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Board in EXECUTIVE SESSION regarding Pending Litigation (ORC 121.22 (G) (3)).

EXECUTIVE SESSION ended at 1:15 p.m. Comp Management was authorized to re-set the hearing regarding Case #02-836506.

1:40 p.m. Otto Gerdeman and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group, and Greg Reinhart, County Wastewater Operations Manager, met with the Board for a projects update. Mayor Schultz and Dave Williams were also briefly present at the beginning of the meeting and discussed the purchase of a generator for the Express Sewer project (corner of Carpenter and Elliott Roads). The group reviewed electric bills for various pump stations, noting different periods when there were higher fluctuations in the bills; they also discussed repair/replacement options regarding several manholes on Breckler Road.

The completion of the Express Sewer project is scheduled for the end of June.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 3:05 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner