NEWS RELEASE
DEFIANCE
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, AUGUST 2, 2010
The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at
8:30 a.m. on Monday, August 2, 2010 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners
Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio
43512. Chairman James E. Harris,
Jr. called the meeting to
order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L.
Kime and Otto L. Nicely, Laura Howell,
Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Lanie Miller, Deputy Clerk.
The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed
various resolutions, contracts and documents.
The Commissioners also reviewed the calendar of events and discussed
upcoming meetings.
Warren Schlatter,
Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for an update. Warren informed the Board that guard rail
installation is currently being done on the Openlander
Road bridge.
Once this is completed, the road will re-open. The crew will then move to Defiance-Paulding
County Line Road east of Farmer-Mark Road for a roadside slip repair. This portion of road is currently closed by
Paulding County for a bridge replacement.
Roadside grading work is continuing on Glenburg
Road, Farmer Mark Road north of SR 18 on the east side and Watson Road east of
SR 15. The cement stabilization
contractor will be beginning work in the next two weeks on Blosser
Road and Krouse Road.
Jack Graf,
Defiance County Job and Family Services, and Emilie Handley, Job Works Youth
Advisor, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on the WIA youth
program. There are currently 33 people utilizing the program. There are currently 12 employers that are
providing work experiences. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Youth Programs
provide employment and training activities for economically disadvantaged youth
ages 16 to 21. Certain provisions of the
new WIA Law substantially reforms youth programming and places a new emphasis
on serving youth within a comprehensive local workforce development system that
integrates summer and year-round services for youth. Youth programs are divided
into two groups; one for in school youth, and the other for out of school
youth. The following ten program elements are available to youth participants
in developing the youth's individual service strategy: Tutoring, study skills training, and
instruction leading to secondary school completion, including dropout
prevention strategies; Alternative school offerings; G.E.D;
Summer employment opportunities
directly linked to academic and occupational learning; Paid and unpaid work experience,
including internships and job shadowing; Occupational skills training; Leadership
development opportunities, which may include such activities as positive social
behavior and soft-skills, decision making and teamwork; Supportive services, such as child care
and transportation to assist the youth in participating in other activities; Adult
mentoring for at least 12 months, which may be during or after program
participation; Follow-up services for at least 12 months; and Comprehensive
guidance and counseling. In exchange for
the WIA youth program paying 100% wages, FICA and workers compensation, an
employer agrees to employ a young person for 4 -6 weeks.
Amy Galbraith,
Defiance County Clerk of Courts, met with the Commissioners to discuss software
options. Rather than getting a new
software program, the current program will be updated and training provided by Courtview.
The
Commissioners held two public hearings for the Defiance County Electric Power
Aggregation Plan of Operation and Governance with no one in attendance. The “Defiance County Electric Power
Aggregation Plan of Operation and Governance” describes the policies and
procedures by which Defiance County will implement its electric aggregation
program, and includes information regarding customer rates and service. On May 4, 2010, this was approved by voters in
the unincorporated areas in the following townships: Adams, Farmer, Highland,
Noble, Richland and Tiffin.
Sheriff Westrick
and Sergeant Denning met with the Commissioners to discuss a security grant. There currently are no grants available. The Commissioners and Sheriff’s department
will continue to review options.
Release Approved: ____________________________________________________
James
E. Harris, Jr., Defiance County Commissioner