NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2007

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 10, 2007 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512.  Chairman Otto L. Nicely called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and James E. Harris, Jr., Laura Howell, County Administrator, Cara Brown, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk

 

The Board received the November 2007 Activity Report from Jean Ziegler, Clerk of Courts. Jean reported collecting Legal Fees of $12,674.47 and Title Fees of $4,766.60. The Certificate of Title Administrative Fund is at $8,852.27. Jean also reported deposits for the following: Legal Fees of $799,420.78 and Title Fees of $407,999.65. The Sales or Use and Dealers Tax collected were $386,232.86 and Watercraft Tax collected was $319.85. The number of Titles issued was 2,141, number of Notation of Liens was 608 and the number of Inspections was 468.

 

Julie Rittenhouse, EMA Director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the County’s old generator. Julie advised that she met with Defiance College regarding an Alternate Care Facility plan for local hospitals and the College expressed interest in using the generator to power the Carl Weaner Center, as an Alternate Care Facility, in the event of an emergency.

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Warren went over his accumulated revenues report. As of November, 2007, the Engineer’s accumulated revenues is $3,785,854.95. The Permissive Tax collected in November was $37,411.24, Motor Vehicle/License Tax was $118,154.43, Gas Tax was $197,993.14 and the Court fines were $921.00.

 

Warren also advised that with the recent weather, his office has just ordered another 300 tons of salt.

 

Defiance City Board of Control, Mayor Bob Armstrong, City Administrator Jeff Leonard, Finance Director John Seele, and Law Director Mike Williams, met with the Commissioners to discuss the widening of the State Route 66 / U.S. 24 Corridor. The Commissioners advised that at this time, among other factors, the County is still waiting to hear a decision on a company possibly putting in a distribution center on Elliott Road, before making a firm commitment to the City on this project.

 

The City of Defiance and Defiance County will be reviewing the Dog Wardens contract in the near future.

 

Defiance City Police Chief, Norm Walker, and Assistant Chief Tim Tobias, met with the Commissioners to discuss policies on dog bites.

 

The Commissioners are encouraging Defiance County Citizens to contact their legislatures to keep the 32-cent per month charge on wireless phone numbers. When 911 is called from a wireless connection, it is sometimes difficult to determine the location of the call. Thanks to the implementation of the E911 system (enhanced 911) most 911 systems now automatically report the telephone number and location of 911 calls made from wireless phones resulting in faster response times from emergency personnel. This charge is due to expire on December 31, 2008.

 

 

Release Approved:          ____________________________________________________    

                                           Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner