DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2002

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met at 8:00 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Board of Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512 on Monday, December 9, 2002. The meeting was called to order by Otto L. Nicely, Chair. Present were Thomas Kime and Richard Cromwell, Commissioners, Becky Wagner, County Administrator, Alison Grimes, Clerk and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

At 8:00 a.m., Russ Herman, County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Commissioners for a bi-monthly review of any documents pending his review and approval. Currently, the Prosecutor’s office has no outstanding documents pending approval at this time and is up-to-date on all paperwork.

At 8:30 a.m., during General Session, various Resolutions were presented to the Commissioners for their review and approval and Monday’s agenda and calendar of events were reviewed.

Commissioners were introduced to the new Wastewater Operator, Ron Dorohoff. A Defiance County resident, Mr. Dorohoff begins his duties today as an assistant to Greg Reinhart, Wastewater Operations Director.

November, 2002, Humane Agent’s report: The Humane Agent’s office investigated 105 calls during the month of November and noted 198 personal contacts. 27 dogs were taken to the Animal Shelter, 14 warnings and 6 citations were issued and 1,802 miles were logged on the Agent’s vehicle. 1,580 pounds of animals were taken to the landfill for disposal.

At 9:30. Gaylon Davis, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for a brief update. He presented current revenue figures from his department; income to-date is as follows:

Permissive Tax $ 32,521.44

Motor Vehicle/License Tax $ 74,635.10

Gasoline Tax $110,122.42

Court Fines $ 2,374.20

Mr. Davis gave the Board a greatly enlarged draft copy of the latest county map. The map is being generated in-house, but will be sent out for duplication in about a month.

He also informed the Commissioners of various road regrading, widening, etcetera, for the following roads: Watson Road, between 66 and 15; Harding Road, between Watson and the river; and the Bend Road, from 15 north to the county line.

At 10:00 a.m., a bid opening was held for the purchase of three (3) 2003 cruisers for the Sheriff’s department. Attending the meeting was Wes Moats, Mark Moats Ford and Dave Knipp, Beckman Chevrolet. Bids were received from the following:

Mark Moats Ford $20,490.00 or $61,470.00 for 3

Defiance, Ohio

Beckman Chevrolet-Cadillac $18,467.40 or $55,402.20 for 3

Defiance, Ohio

Stykemain Chevrolet-Pontiac $19,837.98 or $59,513.94 for 3

Defiance, Ohio

The Commissioners accepted the bids as presented and the Sheriff’s department will be asked to review the bids and present a recommendation.

At 11:00 a.m., Jan Hauser, Director of Business Development from Finkbeiner, Pettis and Strout, a consulting engineering firm, met with the Commissioners to give them a brief presentation regarding the Joint Watershed Management Flood Control Project (Ditch 40) which was a joint project between Williams County and Defiance County. FPS was the project engineer and they are submitting the project for the 2003 Engineering Excellence Award Competition, Water Resources category, to the Ohio branch of the American Civil Engineering Society. If the project wins, FPS will submit it for national recognition. The cost of this joint project was $4.5 million and was completed in September of 2002.

After lunch, Commissioners will be continuing budget meetings with various County Elected Officials and Department Heads.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner