NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, JULY 20, 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, July 20, 2006. Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioner’s Richard L. Cromwell, Otto Nicely, County Administrator Becky Wagner, Clerk Lyla Gurwell, and Deputy Clerk Joanne Goerlitz.

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.

Deb Gilgenbach, Cardiovascular Health Project Director came in along with Health Educators, Sandy Schlachter and Jill Hitzeman to request approval of the designs of the signs to be posted along the new walking trail at Defiance County East. The plan is to have printed health messages, directions on where to walk as well as distance signs on white 12” x 12” heavy gauge aluminum signs.

The Defiance County Health Department received funding to provide the signage for the walking trail from the Cardiovascular Health Grant through the Ohio Department of Health from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Defiance County Administrator, Becky Wagner submitted her weekly report to the Board of Commissioners.

Becky discussed the courthouse presentation with the Board of Commissioners. The next public meeting for the courthouse options will be held at 7:00 p. m. on Monday, July 24, 2006 at the Defiance Middle School Cafeteria. Becky also noted the courthouse presentation is on the Defiance County Web site at www.defiance-county.com . There you can either view a Power Point presentation or look at photos of the courthouse and annex building.

Becky also mentioned that she spoke with Dennis Miller, Director of Maumee Valley Planning regarding the West High Canoe Launch project. This project will be awarded on August 1, 2006.

A grant was received from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to enhance the amount of available recreational opportunities in Defiance county. The Commissioners are working on two canoe launch sites: one on West High Street and the other on Schick Road. The total grant amount was $24,971.00. A resolution for the projects was passed in March of 2006 which states the Board of Commissioners agree to certain limitations on the use of the land where they provide funding for public recreation uses such as this type of project.

Becky also brought in Ron Cereghin, Maintenance Supervisor to discuss replacing the roof at the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office with a mechanically attached roof. Ron received four quotes from various contractors for this project. The lowest bid was $17,350.00.

Ron also received quotes on replacing two roofs at the Evergreen Office Complex which includes 1,518 sq feet at the Extension Office and 4,495 sq feet at the Human Services area. The lowest bid received for the Evergreen Office Complex came in at a combined total for both areas of $16,035.

Lieutenant Chris Clawson from the Defiance County Sheriff’s Office came in to request funding for the purchase of an additional K-9 along with training of the K-9 and the staff person who would need to train with the dog. The training would continue for three months with additional training as necessary.

Chris mentioned the use of the K-9 unit has gone up from approximately 39 calls per month in 1998 to approximately 55 K-9 calls to date in 2006. Chris explained the K-9 Unit is used for fleeing suspects, finding missing children or persons, drug searches and is also used at approximately 50 demos per year at schools and for civic group meetings.

Lieutenant Clawson also requested the purchase of a 2004 Yukon. Chris explained this unit could also be used as a command Center if needed because of its size. The Commissioners approved the purchase of this vehicle for the Defiance County Sheriff.

News Release Approved: ______________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner