NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2008

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2008 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners James E. Harris, Jr. and Otto L. Nicely, Laura Howell, County Administrator and Stephanie Metz, Clerk.

The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents, approved several travel requests, reviewed the calendar of events and discussed upcoming meetings.

Laura Howell, Administrator, provided her weekly update to the Board. Laura informed the Commissioners that during the month of September, a total of 209 Defiance County residents were able to receive prescription drug discounts through the NACo Prescription Drug Discount Card Program. Total September price savings were $3,541.97, which equates to a 21.33% price savings per prescription.

Laura informed the Board that she talked to Susan Kirkland, Manager of Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) Safety Programs regarding the Hire Road CSX railroad crossing. Ms. Kirkland stated that the ORDC has only $15 million per year for assistance with grade separations and assistance with warning devices such as lights and gates. She said that the least expensive grade separation would cost $5 million. The plan that ORDC offers is $200,000 per closure of CSX crossings to supplement costs for a particular grade separation. The local jurisdiction would be required to fund the majority of the project.

Laura also informed the Board that Defiance County Public Safety recently received word that Defiance County has been chosen as a recipient of a free ham radio base station through a Regional Medical Response System (RMRS) grant. The ham radio base station will be utilized in the event ofa disaster and all other forms of communication no longer are working (i.e. cell phones, land telephone lines, emergency radio frequencies, etc.).

Jack Graf, Job & Family Services Director, presented to the Commissioners the Comprehensive Title XX Services Plan. This Plan details how Job & Family Services will be utilizing federal money for services provided in-house such as: adoptions, case management, foster care, protective services for children and adults. This Plan is updated biennially and approved by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner