DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:30 a.m. in the Council Room in the Village of Hicksville, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, September 11, 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. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk, attended the Defiance session.

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.

At 8:46 a.m., the Commissioners, Becky and Alison held a moment of silence in observance of the second anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. At the request of President Bush, County flags will fly at half-staff and the day was proclaimed Patriot Day, 2003.

Larry Haver also stopped in to speak briefly with the Board regarding the Emerald Ash Borer problem in Hicksville. He had several questions concerning the issue and Alison was requested to give Bruce Clevenger, the OSU Extension Office Director Mr. Haver’s phone number so he may speak to him directly about the situation.

The Board also discussed the on-going issue regarding Garden Ridge Nursery. The facility was issued a Notice of Violation of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 6111, Section 04(A)(1), for discharging wastewater into waters of the state. The facility was ordered to stop the migration of waste leachate from the discharge tile and remove the waste leachate from the creek, approximately 200 years downstream from State Route 66 North and return the liquid back to their detention pond. In the event that continued violations of Revised Code Chapter 6111 are observed, the EPA may pursue escalated enforcement.

9:45 a.m. The Board and staff began the return to Defiance.

10:30 a.m. Rick Weaver and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group, met with the Board for a projects update.

Express Sewer: Start-up is scheduled for mid-October.

Evansport Pumps/Blower: Waiting for delivery of pumps.

Indian Bridge Lane: Working with Rural Development regarding funding. Maumee Valley Planning is also searching for funding options.

Christi Meadows I & I: The contract has been signed and will be forwarded to Poggemeyer so they may begin the project.

Poggemeyer also noted that they have reached the contract amount on the 2003 Sanitary Engineering Contract and an addendum would be needed for an additional $2,500. The original letter contract was for $10,000. Rick and Ken also delivered the 2004 Engineering Services Letter Contract for the Board’s review and approval. It will be forwarded to the Prosecutor for review before any signatures are obtained.

Greg Reinhart, County Wastewater Operations Director, came to the meeting a little after 11:00 a.m. and he was brought up-to-date on the various projects.

1:30 p.m. The Board and Gaylon Davis, County Engineer, traveled to Sherwood for a viewing of the ditch petitioned for repair/reconstruction. A Public Hearing for this petitioned ditch is scheduled for Thursday, October 2 at 7:00 p.m. at Fairview Elementary School.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 2:40 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner