DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio 43526 on Thursday, August 7, 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 for the Defiance meeting.

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. The Mayor of Hicksville, Janis Meyer, stopped in briefly to speak to the Board regarding the closing of Dietrich Industries.

Commissioners reviewed and approved the 2004 Local Government Funds and the Local Government Assistance Funds as presented by the Budget Commission. Noted below are the 2004 amounts compared to what was received in 2003:

2004 2003

Local Government Funds $747,408.40 $806,674.65

Local Government Assistance Funds $142,114.46 $152,037.80

This is a reduction of $69,179.59.

At approximately 9:45 a.m., the group began the return trip to Defiance.

Back in Defiance, the Board made a telephone call to Jerry Hayes, Economic Development Director, concerning Dietrich Industries. They discussed sending correspondence to Worthington Steel regarding the closing of the plant in Hicksville.

10:25 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly report.

A meeting has been scheduled with Dietrich Industries for August 26 by Dennis McKay, Job and Family Services Director, to determine the needs of the employees.

The software program for Wastewater Operations is halfway through the testing process. The Computer Consultant, Bob Arend, should complete testing in approximately one month and the program should be installed in about 8 weeks.

Several areas around the Courthouse needing repair were examined by the Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Cereghin, and Becky. Ron will address the issues.

The One-Stop facility on East Second Street is moving to the other side of the building. A new sign is being posted: Defiance County One Stop: Linking Employers with Trained Employees”.

11:30 a.m. Commissioners, Becky, Alison and Elected Officials Gaylon Davis, Engineer; Judge Steven Ruyle, Probate/Juvenile Court; Jane Tadsen, Recorder; Jeff Strausbaugh, Prosecutor; Marlene Goodwin, Auditor; Sheriff Dave Westrick and Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Russ Herman met at Charlie’s Down Under for a luncheon meeting. Mark Hopper and

Julie Fowler, Defiance County Public Safety Services, were also in attendance. Kelly Lowry of Comp Management and Winnie Warren, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, gave a brief presentation to the group regarding workers’ comp benefits, wage continuation, and continuing regular payroll to injured employee instead of Bureau of Workers’ Comp paying the disability compensation. A brief question/answer period followed. 2003 second quarter budget reports were also given to each Elected Official for their review and various Elected Officials updated the group on their departments.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 12:50 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner