NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2005

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512 on Thursday October 27, 2005. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Otto L. Nicely. Also present were Commissioner Tom Kime; Becky Wagner, Administrator, Lyla Gurwell, Clerk and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk.

8:30 A.M. Russ Herman came before the Board for his departmental update. Russ informed the Board that his office sent a modified purchase agreement to Wal-Mart for their review. The Board is waiting for approval of the changes by Wal-Mart attorneys before this project can move forward.

Russ also stated that he is working with Ted Penner on Noble Township occupancy of a right-of-way. The Board of Commissioners will need to approve the occupancy after the Township approves it. The section is located at 1^st Street and Market. This section of road has never been paved or improved, but is considered to be a part of 1^st Street Right-of-way. The residents are asking to occupy 28’ of right-of-way.

8:45 A.M. General Session Clerk, Lyla Gurwell presented various resolutions, contracts and documents for approval of the Commissioners. Commissioners also approved several travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

Sheriff Westrick requested permission to go out for bids on two new cruisers; one front wheel drive and one rear wheel drive. He would like the cars to be 2006 cruisers and the bids to be sent to all new car dealers in Defiance County as well as state bids.

Tony Hoeffel from Hoeffel Engineering & Surveying, LLC, Bryan, OH came in this morning to recommend an award of the bids for the R & L Enterprise – Enterprise Industrial Park project. Tony recommended the bid be awarded to Underground Utilities, Inc. from Monroeville, Ohio who submitted a bid of $1,854,041.90. The engineer’s estimate for this job was $2,633,600.00. There will be a preconstruction meeting with Hoeffel Engineering, The Defiance County Board of Commissioners and Underground Utilities, Inc. at the Commissioners Office on Thursday, November 3, 2005 at 1:30 p.m.

2:00 P.M. Tina Hiler, Senior Center Director came in to update the Commissioners on the Senior Center. Tina needs to purchase a vehicle that will accommodate wheel chairs and have enough room in it for the seniors to ride comfortably. She has found a 2001 Grand Marquis from a local Automobile Dealer in Defiance County with just over 39,000 miles and is requesting the Commissioners to purchase the vehicle.

The Department is also in need of a new hotshot to transport hot meals to seniors within Defiance County. This vehicle would replace the one that was wrecked last month.

Tina also discussed the Senior Center Levy that will be on the ballot on November 8, 2005. Tina reported that the center has placed many signs throughout the county; speeches have been given at evening meals, church groups, Social Services Agency meetings, Republican Women’s meeting, Jewell Legion, Rotary of Hicksville, Kiwanis of Hicksville, UAW CAP Council (endorsed), DCTV, Crescent News, AMVETS (endorsed), Hicksville Tribune, and the Radio Show with Mayor Bob Armstrong.

Tina also reported that that monetary donations have been given from many groups and individuals for a flyer in both Defiance County Newspapers and two voting machines have been at Senior Service events in Defiance and Hicksville

2:30 P.M. Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer came in to discuss the stop sign removal on The Bend Road. Warren indicated based on traffic counts, there is no justification to leaving it as a 4-way stop. The Board of Commissioners approved the removal of the stop signs from The Bend Road (at Scott Road), leaving the two-way stop on Scott Road.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner