DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2002

NEWS RELEASE

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in the Conference Room of the Board at 500 Court Street, Defiance, Ohio at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, December 16, 2002. Present on this date were: Commissioners Otto L. Nicely, Thomas L. Kime and Richard L. Cromwell, Becky Wagner, Administrator, Alison Grimes, Clerk and Joan Brown, Deputy Clerk.

8:00 a.m. Jim Roach, Superintendent of the Northeastern Local School District met with the Commissioners regarding rural development issues in that district. Jerry Hayes, County Economic Development Director, also attended the meeting. The group discussed road repair/improvement issues, trafficking patterns, tax increment financing, growth issues and revenue sources that may be available for road improvements/repairs. Mr. Roach will update his Board on Tuesday with the information he received.

8:30 a.m. Commissioners reviewed the agenda for the day and signed a number of resolutions presented by the Clerk.

9:30 a.m. Gaylon Davis, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners with his weekly update. Commissioners updated Mr. Davis on the 8:00 a.m. meeting with Jim Roach.

10:00 a.m. Morris Murray, Child Support Enforcement Agency Director, met briefly with the Commissioners with information on his 2003 budget, funding, cash flow and operating costs.

10:30 a.m. Diane Mayer, Tina Hiler and Joe Coressel, from the Senior Services Center, presented an update of services for the Commissioners. Emergency meals have been distributed to all meal clients wishing the frozen meals. The Nutrition Grant (IIIC) has been completed, also completed was the IIIB Grant (Transportation, Socialization, Outreach, I & R). In January, a combined Rural Caregiver’s Program and Alzheimer’s Respite grant will be written and submitted to the Area Office on Aging. The Senior Services staff toured the new dialysis facility in Defiance and transportation issues were discussed with the staff. The facility should be up and running by March or April, 2003. The Senior Services Center logged 2,001miles so far this year (meals, medical, etc.) and received 5,938 requests for transportation. 40% of seniors in Defiance County utilize the services of the Senior Center in some way. 76,000 meals have been served through November 2002.

11:00 a.m. Bids for the Express Sewer Project were opened by Otto Gerdeman and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group. Also attending the bid opening were: Mark Boettger, Geo. Gradel Company; Jerry Wilder, Lingvai Excavating; Chris James, Crestline Paving; Randy Varner, Fort Defiance Construction; Zoë Anderzack, Anderzack-Pitzen Construction; Mike Hetrich, Perrysburg Pipe and Supply; Tavis Hertel, Geiger Excavating and Scott Nagel, Vernon Nagel, Inc. The following bids were received:

Geiger Excavating $989,414.00

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Vernon Nagel, Inc. $897,686.87

Napoleon, Ohio

Fort Defiance Construction $989,620.20

Defiance, Ohio

Anderzack-Pitzen $758,134.50

Metamora, Ohio

Crestline Paving $858,471.60

Toledo, Ohio

Lingvai Excavating $935,980.00

Bryan, Ohio

Geo. Gradel Company $829,734.00

Toledo, Ohio

Gleason Construction $849,698.25

Holland, Ohio

The Engineering estimate for the project is $1,000,000.00.

Commissioners voted to accept the bids as presented for review and future approval. Poggemeyer should have a recommendation by Thursday.

11:30 a.m. Bids for the Evansport Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements were opened at this time by Otto Gerdeman and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group. Also attending the bid opening were: Lisa Karcher, Maumee Valley Planning Organization; David Walker, Helm and Associates and Andy Hatford, Midwest Contracting. The following bids were received:

Helm and Associates $12,700.00

Maumee, Ohio

Midwest Contracting $10,180.00

Holland, Ohio

The Engineering estimate for the project is $8,000.00.

Commissioners and Poggemeyer noted that the bids submitted were over the 10% acceptance limit so the bids were rejected as presented. Since the project estimate is under $15,000, it may be possible to request informal quotes. The Prosecutor’s office will be contacted to confirm if this is acceptable.

1:30 p.m. Jane Tadsen, Defiance County Recorder, met with the Commissioners in EXECUTIVE SESSION regarding Personnel (ORC 121.22 (G)(1)).

2:30 p.m. Susan Jackson, Interim Job and Family Services Director, and Mary Ritter, Fiscal Agent, met with the Commissioners to review the department’s budget for 2003. After the budget, Susan updated the Commissioners on staff changes, the status of various funds and cuts in government funding, Workforce Development and the One Stop facility.

3:30 p.m. Carol Armitage, 911 Communications Director, met with the Commissioners at this time for her department’s budget meeting.

Approved for news release: _____________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Commissioner