NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2007

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on Thursday, September 13, 2007 8:30 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, OH 43512. Chairman Otto L. Nicely called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas Kime and James Harris, Jr., Becky Wagner, Administrator, Cara Brown, Clerk and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk.

Ron Cereghin, Maintenance Supervisor, met with the Commissioners to discuss the 4-H Horse barn roof repair estimates. Ron was advised to contact Beilharz Architecture to have them prepare specs and bid notices.

General Session – The Commissioners were presented with various resolutions and documents for approval. The Commissioners reviewed agenda items, and discussed upcoming meetings and events.

Tina Mohring, Family and Children First Coordinator and Beth Foreman, Help Me Grow Project Director, met with the Commissioners in Executive Session to discuss personnel hiring. The Commissioners authorized Tina and Beth to offer the position, contingent upon pre-employment testing.

Becky Wagner, Operations Manager, gave her weekly update. Becky reported that the Defiance Development and Visitor’s Bureau has a link on the County’s website. The Senior Center will begin parking the Senior Services vehicles out at Defiance County East. Rhonda Casler, is still working on getting a local training session scheduled for elected officials and their staff on House Bill 9 which pertains to public records requests and retention.

Jack Graf, Director of Job and Family Services, met with the Commissioners and advised that currently eight percent (8%) of the county population is receiving food stamps. Executive Session was entered into to discuss the ratification of Job and Family Services contract. Executive Session ended with passing a resolution to ratify the agreement with AFSCME, Local 1650 for three (3) years.

Isaac Lee, Assistant Economic Development Director, met with the Commissioner to discuss the Enterprise Zone Agreement with Quality Machining & Mfg., Inc.. This will create twenty-five (25) new jobs, a new building with an approximate size of 27,000 square feet and an investment of approximately $990,000. The Board of Commissioners would like to thank Quality Machining & Mfg., Inc. for their investment in Defiance County.

The Board of Commissioners are discussing forming a County Port Authority to assist with the economic development of Defiance County.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner