NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 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, August 10, 2006. Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Richard L. Cromwell, Otto L. Nicely, County Administrator Becky Wagner, 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.

During General Session an Annexation Petition request from Sanford Trucking Inc. was reviewed. The Petition was filed with the Board of County Commissioners on July 10, 2006 seeking the annexation of approximately 30.277 acres of land from Defiance Township to the City of Defiance. The Annexation Petition has not met all the requirements of an Expedited Type 2 Annexation and the Annexation Petition was denied by the Board of County Commissioners.

The Commissioners received the Summary Report from Jeff Strausbaugh, Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney. The Prosecutor reported that the total number of Criminal Cases Prosecuted to Conviction from January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005 were 265 cases. Total fines assessed were $87,500.00 and the total money collected from fines assessed was $7,484.50.

Jean Ziegler, Clerk of Courts, submitted her July, 2006 Activity Report. During the month of July Jean collected $12,614.04 in Legal Fees, and $6,132.25 in Title Fees. Also reported Certificate of Title Administration Fund Fees collected were $11,388.46.

The number of Titles issued was 2,459 which included 199 New Car Titles, 62 Motorcycle Titles, 6 Motor Home Titles, 1,318 Used Car Titles, 29 Manufactured Home Titles, 3 Bus Titles, 108 New Truck Titles, 20 Trailer Titles, 35 Travel Trailer Titles, 41 Off-Road Vehicle Titles, 481 Used Truck Titles, 131 Watercraft Titles and 26 Van Titles. Jean also reported there were 685 Notation of Liens and 487 Inspections.

Becky Wagner, Defiance County Administrator, presented her report to the Commissioners. Becky updated the Board on the Defiance County Continuity of Government Plan. This plan will ensure that Defiance County has sufficient resources to continue essential operations should county facilities and personnel be affected by an adverse event such as fire, sewer storm, power disturbance/interruption or an emergency or disaster due to terrorism, natural or technological hazard. Each Elected Official and Department Head was asked to fill out the Continuity of Government Plan for their operations.

Becky also reported that signs are being installed at the walking trail at the Defiance County East Complex. The signs will have printed health messages and directions on where to walk.

Matt Gilroy from Defiance County Economic Development came in to present documents for the approval of an Enterprise Zone Agreement for First Federal Bank of the Midwest. The proposed Enterprise Agreement relates to the investment of constructing a new operations center facility on a newly acquired land parcel on Elliott Road in Richland Township which will house the various internal-service departments of First Federal Bank. The Enterprise will create 31 permanent full-time jobs and 4 part-time permanent jobs. The project would begin by September, 2006 with a completion date of September, 2008. After discussion the Enterprise Zone Agreement for First Federal Bank of the Midwest was approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

A second Public Hearing will be held at the Defiance County Public Safety Services Building in Brunersburg on August 14, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. for the purpose of requesting a Countywide Sales and Use Tax Increase of ½% for 4 years, then reduced to ¼% for either 4 or 7 years to provide additional revenue for the acquisition, construction/renovation, equipping, and/or repair of the Defiance County Courthouse and related parking, pursuant to the Ohio Revised Code Section 5739.026 (A) (5). The Sales and Use Tax Increase will be proposed on the November election ballot.

News Release Approved: ______________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner