NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, JULY 24, 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 Monday, July 24, 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.

The Commissioners met with Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Russ Herman for his bi-weekly update.

Russ informed the Commissioners he is working on a resolution for review by the Board of Commissioners regarding the upcoming tax ballot issue for the County Courthouse. The additional sales tax increase would provide additional revenue for the acquisition, construction, equipping, or repair of any specific permanent improvement or any class or group of permanent improvements.

The Resolution, in part would read the Board of Commissioners are taking into consideration the existing courthouse. There is inadequate space, obsolete utilities, poor courthouse security issues, noncompliance with current fire codes and ADA requirements and numerous other problems with the existing structure that make it difficult to support daily operations.

Additionally, the current Courthouse is in need of major repairs estimated at $4.5 million. Current studies conducted with an architectural firm explored several options on renovation of the existing County Courthouse and/ or construction of a new County Courthouse.

The Board of Commissioners would like to encourage the residence of Defiance County to attend the next public meeting for the courthouse options. It will be held at 7:00 p. m. on Tuesday, July 25, 2006 at the Fairview Elementary School Cafeteria. The public will be informed of the options by viewing a Power Point presentation and then will be given a survey to fill out and return to the Commissioners that will allow you to record your input as well as explain your option choice. The Commissioners will review all of the surveys and announce what option will be pursued based on public comment. Also, 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.

The Commissioners met with County Engineer, Warren Schlatter to discuss projects he is working on. Warren mentioned paving on Adams Ridge Road should be complete by the end of this week when Gerken Paving will move over to Elliott Road to begin applying the asphalt base course. Warren stated they will begin at the west end of Elliott Road.

Warren also discussed the Fountain Street Bridges – both east and west of Lake Road. Warren indicated his crew is working on tearing off the beams on the bridge east of Lake. Warren anticipates both bridges will be complete before the Defiance County Fair.

Warren also briefly discussed the West High Canoe Launch project. This project will be awarded on August 1, 2006. There is a second canoe site which is located on Schick Road. Warren is working on those plans and mentioned he has approximately 2 days of work left to do before they can be submitted to the state. Warren also indicated he would like to have the final costs on the West High Canoe Site prior to moving forward with the second project.

Also discussed was the fairgrounds outlet. The Defiance County Engineer requested letter quotes for a 15” x 900’ smooth inside tile installed south of the Defiance County Fairgrounds in Hicksville. This would need to be done after the wheat harvest is complete. The job also included the existing catch basin at the outlet to have a stub installed.

Warren received two quotes back, one from Zimmerman Farm Drainage in the amount of $7,192 and the other was from Gerding Ditching in the amount of $8,775. Warren will award the project to Zimmerman Farm Drainage.

News Release Approved: ______________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner