DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met 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 24, 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 was Becky Wagner, Administrator, and Alison Grimes, 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.

9:30 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly update at this time. She informed the Board that Kristina Ortloff’s last day will be August 8. Kristina has been going door-to-door, assuring that all dog owners have licenses for their animal. The last day for the current Assistant Dog Warden, Tom Sanders, is August 4. The new assistant, Mike Zipfel, begins work on July 30.

The roof at the Evergreen Lane Office Complex has developed several leaks. Ron Cereghin, County Maintenance Director, was asked to obtain several quotes for roof repair/replacement.

Finally, the generator has been installed in the mechanical room at the Health Department.

10:30 a.m. Bruce Clevenger and Barb Rohrs, OSU Extension Office, met with the Board to present their quarterly update. Bruce reported that a Hazard Analysis for the 2003 Defiance County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan has been completed. The analysis showed that the blizzard of ‘78 cost Ohioans $3.5 million. Tornadoes have been reported in Defiance County once in every 6.1 years. Damaging thunderstorm winds (70 to 90 miles per hour) occurred 1.3 times per year. The Maumee River and its tributaries exceed flood stage once in every 2.3 years. There are 380 building structures currently in Defiance County’s 100 year flood plain. The Plan will be used to find projects that prevent loss of human life and property damage in Defiance County.

The 2003 Defiance County Farmers Market opened May 22 with new market days and hours. For the first time the market is open two days a week – Thursdays 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to Noon. 19 more vendors than last year registered to sell their products.

During April, May and June, over 200 phone calls and/or personal visits were made to the county agriculture/natural resources agent. These calls were requesting information on crop production, pond management and/or farm management.

The 2003 class of Master Gardeners has completed their 50 hours of horticultural training. Master gardeners volunteer 50 hours of community service. Some of their projects for 2003 have been teaching at day camps and adopting and renovating five City of Defiance flowerbeds. They have assisted with over 140 phone calls or personal contacts made to the Horticulture Hotline during April, May and June.

All Defiance County Junior Fair livestock exhibitors must complete a quality assurance program each year of exhibition. The Ag agent taught all the sessions to the youth in Defiance County. 258 youth received written and oral presentations about caring for animals to ensure wholesome market animals.

The Family Nutrition Program presented 18 educational sessions with approximately 125 participants. Topics included 5 A Day; Raisins – A Perfect Snack; How Much Are You Eating and Nutrient Density. Evaluations of participants indicated they gained and are using new nutrition knowledge. The grant funding for this program has been renewed for next year.

Five families attended H.O.P.E. (Helping Others with Positive Experiences), a program for families experiencing difficulties. The families work together and separately to establish better relationships in the family. Each family will participate in a family project to successfully complete the program.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner