NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2007

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on  Monday, October 29, 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 Commissioner James E. Harris, Jr., Laura Howell, Administrator,  Cara Brown, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk. Commissioner Kime was absent.      

 

Russ Herman met with the Commissioners and provided an update on pending legal issues in the Prosecutor’s office.

 

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

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Warren advised that Whetstone and Blosser Roads are being primed for chip sealing and the chip sealing should be done this week. The Blosser Road intersection, west of State Route 127, has been paved. Highland Center Road, south of Watson, was closed Monday morning for a culvert replacement.

 

Bruce Clevenger, Barb Rohrs, and Teresa Johnson from the Ohio State University Extension Office updated the Commissioners on several programs offered through OSU Extension.

 

Bruce noted that the Extension office is monitoring the Western Corn Rootworm that threatens 1st year corn production. Five out of seven fields being monitored exceeded the 5.0 beetles/trap/day. The Extension office will continue monitoring the worm.

 

Bruce also advised that he gave a presentation on the research conducted at the Defiance Agricultural Research Association site at State and national meetings. The research results were from 10 years of subsurface irrigation, the use of gypsum in crop production and the use of controlled drainage to improve water quality and crop yields.

 

Bruce also reported that the Defiance County Farmers Market has the highest levels of vendor participation with 26 in Defiance, 21 in Sherwood and 34 in Hicksville. The Markets are open in Hicksville on Thursday 9-11am, in Defiance on Thursday 3-6pm and Saturdays 9am-12pm, and in Sherwood on Friday’s 9am-12pm.

 

Barb reported that their office is a provider of the New Start Program for people that have filed bankruptcy. Two hours of personal finance must be completed before the bankruptcy can be finalized. Two people have completed this program in the 3rd quarter.

 

Barb reported that 14 families have participated in the Parent Enrichment program. Some of the programs covered are Positive Discipline without Shaking, Shouting of Spanking series and covered topics of Family Life, Child Development, Daily Care and Health & Safety.Parenting 1,2,3,4, a program for parents with young children was conducted, Red, White and Bruises has been added to this class; it address inappropriate methods of discipline. Certificates are awarded to families who complete the program.  There is also a family enrichment program (H.O.P.E.) that is offered to families interested in strengthening their family or experiencing problems that need to be addressed. 

 

 

Theresa reported that despite the rainy weather for the fair, it was successful. The junior fair has 830 exhibitors with 546 entries from youth representing both 4-H and FFA. A total of 35 youth received honors at the Ohio State Fair. Kid’s Day teamed up with the Health Department and had 133 in attendance. 4-H Camp Palmer had 167 total campers. This represents 114 youth campers, 38 teen counselors and 11 adult volunteers. 46% of the campers received a scholarship.

 

Kid’s Central ran for 5 weeks throughout the summer at two separate locations in Defiance County. The program focused on providing a great way for youth to spend their summer as well as promoting  healthy lifestyles by increasing physical activity and making healthy food choices. Kid’s Central teamed with Defiance County Health Department to come up with some healthy focuses for this summer’s program.

 

Information and programs offered through the Ohio State University Extension Defiance County can be found on their website at www.defiance.osu.edu. 

 

Mike Boff, Soil and Water, met with the Commissioners along with Paulding County Commissioners to form a Joint Board of Commissioners for the Beetree Run Ditch Project. The Joint Board of Commissioners voted Commissioner Harris as Chairman for the project. A motion to proceed on the project was passed unanimously.

 

The Commissioners attended the organizational meeting for the Defiance County Port Authority. The Board of Directors for the Port Authority are Tim Small, Lisa Stauffer, Jim Ehlinger, Ed Yoder, and Mickey Schwarzbek. The Board of Directors elected Tim Small as Chairman and Jim Ehlinger as Vice-Chairman. Dennis Miller will be the Secretary/Treasurer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Release Approved:          ____________________________________________________    

                                           Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner