NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2008

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512.  Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order.  Also present were Commissioners James E. Harris, Jr. and Otto L. Nicely, Laura Howell, Administrator Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, 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.

 

Niki Warncke, Maumee Valley Planning Office, and Tina Hiler, Senior Center Director, met with the Commissioners to open bids for a Senior Center vehicle.  The following bids were received: Tesco Transportation Equipment Sales Corp., Oregon, OH: $38,952.00; American Bus & Accessories, Inc., Cincinnati, OH: Option 1: $32,584.00; Option 2: $36,475.00.  The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and the bid will be awarded at a later date.

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for his weekly update.  Warren informed the Commissioners that the Highway Department currently has enough salt on hand to go through two events similar to last week’s ice storm.  His office will be obtaining more salt and is looking at various ways of obtaining salt in the future.

 

Bruce Clevenger, Barb Rohrs and Teresa Johnson, Ohio State Extension Office, met with the Commissioners to provide their quarterly update.  Anyone interested in any of the OSU Extension Programs can receive more information by contacting the Defiance OSU Extension Office at 419-782-4771.

 

Bruce reported the he is currently working with local farmers with on-farm research to use pesticides wisely and profitably.  Wheat research completed in 2008: Statego® fungicide, at a cost of $12.00/acre applied at growth stage 5-6 for the control of leaf blotch, showed no significant difference in disease levels or grain yields between plots with or without the fungicide.  Proline® fungicide, at a cost of $24.50/acre, for the suppression of Fusarium Head Scab, showed no significant difference in disease levels or grain yields between plots with or without the fungicide.  Bruce plans on continuing the on-farm research in 2009 with local farmers.  Bruce also reported that local farmers are doing a lot of soil testing this fall to try to cut down on fertilizer use.  The cost of fertilizer has increased dramatically in recent years.

 

Barb Rohrs reported that multiple healthy finances, healthy relationships and healthy eating programs were conducted across the county.  Community programs were conducted at mall shows, health fairs, work sites, churches, grocery stores, camps. YMCA, and civic organizations.  Families struggling with family life issues welcomed information learned at these informal programs.  The evaluated programs showed that 98% learned information that they will use in their life.

 

Teresa reported on a shooting sports program that will be put on by Ken and Kay Boroff at Defiance Fish and Game.  This program is for Defiance County 4-H participants.  There will be a $35.00 admission fee to cover the books and ammunition used for the program.  Ken and Kay Boroff will be providing the rifles and instruction for the program.  There will be an organizational meeting in January. 

 

Jan Excell, Wastewater Operations, met with the Commissioners for an update.  Jan informed the Commissioners that a grinder pump was replaced at Oak Forest Drive, the floats were cleaned at pump stations and a tree was cut down at Auglaize Pine wastewater treatment plant.  Jan also presented Wastewater’s income and expense report for the month of November, 2008 to the Commissioners.

 

Jean Zeigler, Clerk of Courts and Jane Tadsen, Recorder, met with the Commissioners to discuss office transition.  The Commissioners presented both with proclamations for exemplifying a devoted work ethic to their professions and choosing to give more to their community.

 

Karen Tubbs, Defiance County Treasurer, met with the Commissioners to provide the 4th quarter investment update.  The amount of the Defiance County Portfolio was at $44,579.67 with a weighted maturity of 297 days and a weighted yield at 3.24%.

 

Jeff Strausbaugh, Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Commissioner to discuss office transition.  The Commissioners discussed the possibility of renting the current office space to save taxpayer’s money on renovating a temporary location for the new Prosecuting Attorney.

 

The Commissioners received notification of Defiance/Fulton/Henry/Paulding/Van Wert/Williams counties receiving a Regional Ohio Neighborhood Stabilization Award in the amount of $1,040,547.  Maumee Valley Planning Office will be organizing meetings with the regions Counties and Cities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Release Approved:            ____________________________________________________     

                                                Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner