DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

News Release

Thursday, October 17, 2002

OPENING:

The regular meeting of the Board of Defiance County Commissioners was called to order at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2002, in the Conference Room of the Board of Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512 by Chairman Otto L. Nicely.

PRESENT: ABSENT:

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner

Richard L. Cromwell, Commissioner

Becky Wagner, Operations Manager/Administrator

Alison Grimes, Clerk

D. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes for the October 7, 2002 meeting were reviewed, and finding no additions or corrections, were approved as read.

Motion – Tom Second – Rich

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-576

The minutes for the October 10, 2002 meeting were reviewed, and finding no additions or corrections, were approved as read.

Motion – Rich Second – Tom

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-577

B. RESOLUTIONS

The following Resolutions were submitted for consideration and approved:

Payment of Vouchers

Motion – Tom Second – Otto Rich abstained

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION # 02-10-578

Transfer of Funds #76 - Commissioners

Motion – Tom Second - Rich

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION # 02-10-579

Transfer of Funds #77 - Engineer

Motion – Rich Second - Tom

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION # 02-10-580

Authorization From Ohio Public Works Commission Regarding Auglaize River Sewer Project

Motion – Tom Second – Rich

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-581

Fuel Price Change #59 - increase

Motion – Otto Second – Tom

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-582

Fuel Price Change #60 - increase

Motion – Tom Second – Rich

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-583

Fuel Price Change #61 - increase

Motion – Rich Second – Tom

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-584

No Purchase Order Request - Various

Motion – Tom Second – Rich

Ø JOURNAL #130, RESOLUTION #02-10-585

C. OPEN ISSUES/DISCUSSION

D. APPOINTMENTS

8:30 a.m. General Session

9:30 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Operations Manager/Administrator, was scheduled to present her weekly update at this time but agenda issues reviewed during General Session utilized her time. Commissioners will review her agenda at their leisure and, if necessary, ask questions at a later time.

10:15 a.m. Wayne Olsson, Board of Elections, met briefly with the Commissioners regarding advertising for State issues. He requested an advance of $3,487.75 for a one-time State Issue I advertisement in the Crescent-News. The funds will be reimbursed by the State. This request was okayed. He also asked about placing the same ad in the Hicksville Tribune. This is also a one-time advertisement but is not refundable. The office will check with the Prosecutor to see if a copy of a resolution denoting the same information but utilizing less space, can be placed in the paper for a lesser cost.

At 10:18 a.m., Commissioners walked over to the KeyBank parking lot to address several construction/renovation issues. They returned at 10:30 a.m.

At 10:34 a.m., Commissioner Cromwell left for a CCAO Legislative Committee meeting in Columbus.

10:36 a.m. Bruce Clevenger, Barb Rohrs and Amy Zirkle, Defiance County Extension Office Agents, met with the Commissioners with a quarterly update. Barb Rohrs updated the Commissioners regarding Family and Consumer Science programs. The Family Nutrition Program presented 16 educational sessions with 60 participants. Topics were: Food Safety

Issues and Grocery Store Savings. Participants indicated that they are using the nutrition and food safety knowledge gained. 460 newsletters are distributed monthly.

ServSafe, a food safety curriculum, was offered for the first time to five food service employees. Participants reported being more aware of pathogens affecting food safety. This program will continue yearly.

She also mentioned that 7 parents attended parent enrichment programs. The programs provided information related to the development of young children and parenting needs of families.

Amy Zirkle, 4-H Youth Director, informed the Commissioners that 4-H/United Way Day Camps were held at 10 Defiance County locations during the months of June, July and August. Participants took part in educational programs, games, camp songs and crafts. Day Camps reached 288 youth; 89% were non-traditional 4-H’ers.

155 Defiance County youth attended 4-H Camp Palmer, a residential camp. While at camp, youth participated in leadership experiences, team building activities, outdoor recreation, swimming, canoeing, educational programs, crafts and camp songs.

Amy also told the Commissioners that 177 youth participated in S.O.A.R. – a 14-day program designed for youth in grades 4 through 8. 83% of the participants were non-traditional 4-H members. This program gave 147 non-traditional 4-H youth the opportunity to develop positive leadership skills that 4-H’ers develop in traditional 4-H clubs. This was also the first year for on-line registration for this program. 88 youth registered this way.

Finally, Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Office Administrator, presented information on agriculture, natural resources and community development. During July, August and September, over 195 phone calls and/or personal visits were made to the County agriculture/natural resources agent. These calls were requesting information on crop production, pond management, insect/pest problems and/or farm management.

Each member of the 2002 Master Gardener class completed 50 hours of community service. During July and August the Horticultural Hotline handled over 35 phone calls and/or personal contacts. They also had an exhibit at the Defiance County fair and at an area garden center open house.

Bruce also noted that the Western Corn Rootworm is a potential threat to local corn production. If the Western Corn Rootworm levels are monitored above the established economic threshold of 2.0 beetles per trap per day, then an insecticide treatment is recommended. Five Defiance County monitoring locations averaged 0.74 beetles per trap per day with a range of 0.09 to 1.2 beetles per trap per day. This information can save farmers $12 to $14 per acre on soil insecticide treatments to protect against this insect.

11:00 a.m. Floyd Culver, Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, met with the Commissioners for a brief update of downtown Defiance issues – activities, parking,

the holiday season, etc. The Board of Commissioners also loaned a State flag, pole and stand and a county flag for Chamber use for various community functions.

11:15 a.m. Otto Gerdeman, Poggemeyer Design Group, met with the Commissioners for a brief projects review. Mr. Gerdeman reviewed a request from Scott McDonald for additional service to the Brunersburg Sewer.

Bidding for the Express Sewer – approved plans should be received within thirty days. A bid date will be set as soon as a few final questions are cleared up by the Prosecutor’s office, hopefully as soon as Monday.

Indian Bridge Lane – An address needs to be designated for the pump station which will be installed for this project. The Environmental and Administrative Services office has been contacted to obtain the address. Mr. Gerdeman also discussed several changes to the design and the additional costs associated with the changes. Commissioners gave their approval for PDG to proceed with the changes for an increase of $10,650.00.

County Sanitary Engineer Engineering Agreement – needs to be amended as additional telephone calls, meetings, inspections, etc. have increased; therefore the contract price needs to be increased. These services are for anything outside the other sanitary sewer/water projects in which the County is involved. Sherry Carnahan, Deputy Clerk, has the detailed invoices for the Commissioners’ review.

Evansport/Evergreen Lane Office Complex Wastewater Treatment Plants – average usage and operation and maintenance costs were discussed. Poggemeyer will compile various average costs for the Commissioners’ review.

Mr. Gerdeman also noted that Merlin Butler, PDG, will be meeting with Tim Houck, Landfill Manager, regarding wetland issues.

Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

Approved for News Release: ______________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner