DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512 on Thursday, December 4, 2003. The meeting was called to order by Thomas Kime, Chairman. Present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime, Otto L. Nicely and Richard L. Cromwell. Also present were Becky Wagner, County Administrator, Alison Grimes, Clerk and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

8:30 a.m. General Session – Commissioners approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents, approved various travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events, discussed upcoming meetings and updated information for the calendar of events.

The Board reviewed information obtained during various sessions they attended at the Winter County Commissioners Association of Ohio/County Engineers Association of Ohio Conference.

The Board also discussed safety concerns regarding the proposed at-grade intersection of Independence Road and State Route 24. Concerns were expressed by the Richland Township Trustees, Jewell Grain Company, Jewell Fire Department and the local school district. The groups questioned how they would get fire trucks, grain hauling vehicles and school busses safely across the intersection. Commissioners have decided to contact their local representatives and ODOT about the issue.

9:30a.m. John Horn, Defiance Regional Medical Facility CEO, Mark Rose, Marshall and Melhorn, and Jeff Kuhn, General Counsel for ProMedica, met with the Board regarding the old hospital facility. Russ Herman, County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, was also in attendance. The group discussed various issues concerning the demolition of the old hospital. The Regional Medical Facility is in the process of obtaining bids for the demolition as they hope to begin before the end of the year. The Commissioners requested that whoever receives the demolition bid utilizes the county landfill for placement of the demolition debris.

After discussing minor architectural changes, Mr. Rose will contact Jerry Overmier, Beilharz Architects, for further clarification. Ingress and egress at different locations was discussed, along with parking at Sarah’s House which is located at the corner of East Second and Biede.

Mr. Horn noted that the Medical Facility plans on keeping the Thrift Shop open.

10:00 a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, briefly informed the Board about a position change regarding the “Help Me Grow” program with Family and Children First Council and Good Samaritan. Good Sam will no longer oversee this position and turned the responsibility over to Family and Children First.

During this time slot, the Board began reviewing the 2004 budget.

11:00 a.m. Jerry Hayes, Defiance County Economic Development Director, met with the Board regarding the GM/Powertrain Enterprise Zone Amendment. Mike Chapman, Pete Felton, Karl Kane, from GM/Powertrain and UAW President Paul Murcko also attended.

A letter from Ayersville School Board, received this morning, agreeing to approve the 100% abatement was reviewed.

The amendment increases the purchase of machinery and equipment and new inventory to $58,400,000 (was $34.5). 685 full-time permanent jobs will be retained. A 100% tax exemption on all tangible personal property for a period of 10 years. An agreement stating that GM/Powertrain will utilize the Defiance County Landfill to the greatest extent possible will be included in the amendment.

11:30 a.m. Julie Fowler, Public Safety Services, presented information to the Board regarding gas meters. Mike Creager and Rick Bishop of Ohio Gas donated a gas meter to the County to be utilized by the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteers for training purposes. Volunteers will be trained, among other things, to be able to shut off gas to resident’s homes in case of an emergency.

For further information concerning CERT or if you wish to become a volunteer, please contact Mark or Julie at the Public Safety Services facility at 419.782.1130.

Julie also reviewed the latest CompManagement information concerning Workers’ Comp. Claims from 2003 were discussed. Also, Workers’ Comp rates were reviewed and certain figures were noted to be used in the 2004 budget.

1:30 p.m. Tim Houck, Landfill Manager, met with the Board with concerns regarding the State Auditor’s changes to existing expenditure of funds practices. They reviewed the established practices Mr. Houck observes to assure they are in line with the State Auditor’s requests.

2:00 p.m. Karl Kane and Chuck Renn, GM/Powertrain, met with the Board concerning the use of the Landfill and Landfill costs. Tim Houck, Landfill Manager, was also present for the meeting. Mr. Renn and Mr. Kane reviewed the difference in costs between hauling GM waste to the landfill versus hauling their own waste to a facility of their choice. Mr. Houck feels that, on certain types of loads, hauling some of the GM waste to the Landfill will save money for GM.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 3:37 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner