DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2003

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio on Thursday, December 11, 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, and Alison Grimes, Clerk. Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk, was present during the Defiance session.

This morning the Commissioners were present at the Hicksville High School for a photo op regarding new Federal Signal alert boxes which will be placed in each school in Defiance County. The alert boxes were purchased with grant funding and will sound when tornado warnings are posted for Defiance County. The units will be programmed to be able to set of for individual school districts as well as for other specific types of alerts.

Following this photo op, the Board met in the Hicksville Village Council Room for another photo op displaying pagers and Automatic External Defibrillators which will be utilized by the Hicksville EMS and the Hicksville Fire Department. Grant funding was also obtained for the purchase of these items. Other county emergency response departments will also be receiving this equipment.

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.

After discussion, it was decided to increase the monthly billing rates on the following sewers: Belden’s, Middle Gordon Creek, Auglaize Pines and Evansport. The increase is due to increasing utility costs and operation and maintenance costs.

The Board discussed Tuesday night’s Fairboard meeting. The Board decided to set up a meeting with members of the Senior Fair Board and members of the Junior Fair Livestock Sale Committee. Commissioners have concerns whether the needs of the youth are being met.

And in regard to the old hospital’s demolition, the Board decided to utilize Beilharz Architects, Inc. for architectural work.

The Board began the return to Defiance at approximately 9:30 a.m.

10:30a.m. Becky Wagner, County Administrator, presented her weekly update. She informed the Board that all of the evaluations for the supervisory staff have been completed. All the evaluations went well and they are working on goals for 2004.

Amy Murphy, Family and Children First Coordinator, also had her evaluation this past Friday.

Candidates for the Family Support Specialist position were interviewed Friday afternoon. It was narrowed down to two candidates and background checks will be implemented before a final decision is made.

Becky was contacted by Tom Wiseman to see if the County could utilize a Bowling Green State University graduate student as an intern for a period of 18 weeks (10 to 20 hours per week). The student’s graduate work would be in either public administration or public service. The

Board felt the intern could be utilized in several County departments. Becky will contact Mr. Wiseman for details.

Two areas on the façade of the Commissioner’s annex needs repair. Ron Cereghin, County Maintenance Supervisor, is obtaining several proposals for the repair of the dryvit on the exterior of the building.

11:00 a.m. Russ Herman, County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, came in to talk to the Commissioners about the demolition of the old hospital facility. They reviewed information, submitted by Beilharz Architects, inc., concerning the demolition.

Russ also reviewed the corrections/additions Defiance Clinic added to the agreement with the County to store dirt on County property during their construction work on the Clinic. Russ was instructed to prepare a letter to send to the Clinic with the County’s response.

Russ then requested and received EXECUTIVE SESSION at 11:22 a.m. regarding possible Imminent Litigation (ORC 121.22 (G) 3)). EXECUTIVE SESSION ended at 11:35 a.m. The meeting was informational only.

The Board of Commissioners will continue to hold the 2004 budget meetings with various Department Heads and Elected Officials beginning at 1:15 p.m. this afternoon.

Today’s meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Commissioner