NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2010

 

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 16, 2010 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512.  Chairman James E. Harris, Jr. called the meeting to order.  Also present were Commissioners Otto L. Nicely and Thomas L. Kime, Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk and Lanie Miller, Deputy Clerk. 

 

The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents.  The Commissioners also reviewed the calendar of events and discussed upcoming meetings.

 

Laura Howell, Administrator, provided her weekly update to the Board.  Laura provided the following department updates:

            Job & Family Services:  Food stamps distributed in Defiance County for the period of January through November 2010 equaled $7,205,512.00.  Medicaid amounts by state fiscal year for Defiance County equaled $38,179,044.00 for July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

            EMA:  Julie Rittenhouse reported that she met with an FBI Special Agent regarding Defiance County’s weapons of mass destruction and HazMat capabilities.  The Agent was impressed with our equipment commenting that there are larger cities that do not have the equipment that Defiance County has.

 

Randy Vogel, Defiance County Dog Warden, met with the Commissioners for his update.  Randy reported investigating 105 calls and making 243 personal contacts, resulting in 29 dogs taken to the shelter, 18 warnings and 14 citations.  There were 3,074 miles driven for the month and $1,045.50 collected in Municipal Court fines.  There has been $89,929.00 collected for dog tags compared to $82,191.00 in 2009.

 

Kim Moss, Defiance County Health Department Commissioner, met with the Commissioners to discuss concerns raised recently by the Social Policy Class of Defiance College.

 

Kim reported that the enforcement of the smoking ban operates off of complaints only.  By law, they can only investigate establishments after a complaint has been made.  During 2009 the Health Department investigated 20 complaints and through November this year there has been 19 complaints investigated.  The State now reimburses the Health Department $115.00 per investigation. 

 

Kim reported that the family planning services is provided by Henry County Health Department and is funded completely by a grant.  Henry County workers come to Defiance County Health Department twice a month.  Services are provided by registered nurses, a nurse practitioner and a physician. Please call 1-877-591-3050 for questions or to make an appointment.

 

 

 

Release Approved:  ____________________________________________________  

 

                                                James E. Harris, Jr., Defiance County Commissioner