County Services
The Defiance County Environmental and Administrative Services Office came into existence in 1983 when a $30,000 grant was written and funded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Litter Control.
Currently the Environmental and Administrative Services Office is tasked with implementing the county’s environmental program which is an awareness, collection and educational effort to modify the behavior of the citizens of Defiance County relative to their waste disposal methods to improve and protect our environment. The goal is to utilize the various waste management options. These consist of recycling, incineration, composting and landfilling. The county’s program implements the elements that are detailed in the Joint Four County Solid Waste Management District’s waste management plan. That four county solid waste district is comprised of Defiance, Fulton, Paulding and Williams Counties and is charged by state law to implement programming to divert waste from landfills into the other three waste management elements.
The Department of Environmental and Administrative Services for Defiance County operates recycling drop off collection stations seventeen days a month. These stations are located within 6 miles of every citizen within the county. The program does roadside collection, collecting litter and trash from the 900+ miles of roadway within the borders of Defiance County.
The County’s environmental program conducts awareness through program presentations by providing speakers to public service organizations, by conducting advertising campaigns and by implementing and in-school classroom educational program. The educational element of the program focuses on students in the Kindergarten, Second and Fourth grades. Over 2000 students a year participate in this program event.
The Environmental Program’s success is monitored by the Solid Waste District’s office. The District Office is charged with documenting and tracking the waste stream that is generated within the borders of Defiance County in conjunction with the other three counties of the District. The District as a whole exceeds the State’s recycling goals. These are (residential/commercial) which is 25%. The District’s recycling rate for residential and commercial waste is 36%. The Industrial waste recycling goal by the State is 66%. The District’s waste recycling of Industrial waste is 67%. Defiance County Environmental and Administrative Services program is a successful partner with the District and has been for many years.
The Environmental Services Office is also tasked with snow removal, lawn mowing of county properties and with assisting public office with labor details such as the moving of desks, filing cabinets or other such activities as may be requested. Should you need our assistance please do not hesitate to call 419-782-5442.
Our staff implements the programs with enthusiasm and energy that indicates a can-do spirit. Our public crew supervisors are Marv Hageman, 9 yrs., and Pete Simonis, 9 yrs. The clerical staff provides outstanding support relative to the required myriad number of reports that must be maintained and monitored. Our clerical staff: Susan Herr, 16 yrs., and Lynn Bishop, 2.5 yrs., backed up by Deb Centers, 11 yrs.. The office is managed and operated by June Crosser, 8 yrs., Assistant Director and Tim Houck, 28 yrs., Director.Road Side Litter
The Defiance County Environmental & Administrative Services assists the public with litter control. Our office picks up EVERY road in Defiance County, per year, at least once. Defiance County has an approximate mileage total of 920 miles. There are about 760 miles of Township/County roadways and about 163 miles of State/US Highways. That is a lot of miles of litter control! Two Public Works Supervisors; Pete Simonis and Marvin Hageman oversee a crew of CCNO trustees to assure all litter gets pickup up.
Illegal Dumping
In addition to the miles of litter picked up throughout Defiance County, the Environmental & Administrative Services offers assistance to the public when illegal dumping has occurred. We have received numerous calls regarding appliances, sofa’s, bags of clothing, just dumped along a road. We record the information and send a crew to pick up the ‘dumped’ items.
Mowing
The Defiance County Commissioners save money by having the estimated 27 acres of ‘lawns’ at county facilities mowed by county department Environmental & Administrative Services versus contracting the work out.
The Defiance County Environmental & Administrative Services mow the Courthouse, Annex, Key Bank, Evergreen lanes and Senior Center to residential standards (not to exceed six inches of growth) on a weekly basis. Defiance County Maintenance assists Environmental to maintain Defiance County East facility, Sheriff’s Office and Sarah’s House yards kept to the same standards.
In addition Environmental Services mows NOWAC, Hicksville Transfer Station, Dey Road Bridge Park, Mark Center Park and Sauer Ave (old county garage area) also; five sewer plants; Auglaize Pines (Power Dam road) Hicksville Sewer (Gordon Creek addition) Lakeview Road (Beldon addition) Evansport Road, and Breckler Road sewer pump station.
Snow Removal
It’s that time of year again…snow, sleet and ice. Keeping sidewalks and parking lots cleared of snow and ice is a big job. The Commissioners depend on Defiance County Environmental & Administrative Services to coordinate resources to get the job done. This includes the Courthouse, Annex, Commissioners building, Defiance County East, Evergreen Lanes Office Complex, Senior Center, Humane Shelter, NOCAC, Sheriffs Office, Sarah’s House and shared responsibilities with the City for the County/City parking lot and Biede Avenue.
Pete Simonis and Marv Hageman with their crew of trustees start in the wee hours of the morning to begin shoveling, salting or sanding the required areas. Tom Yeager and Paul Young with the Defiance County Landfill also participate in snow removal, plowing and salting county lots.
Resources include Soil & Water; Kevin Hancock, Dave Sines, Ed Walters who plow the lots, Defiance County Maintenance: Laurie Clausen who begins maintaining the sidewalks at DCE and Defiance County Engineering; Jeff Tim brook’s crew who loads our salt truck in the midst of their busy schedule of plowing and salting all County Roads!
It is a coordinated effort to get the main walkways cleared before 8:00am. Pete and Marv then work to get each of the 45 designated handicap spaces cleared, paths established from the parking at 1st street to the Commissioners parking lot, War Memorial cleared, Hopkins Street Bridge cleared and then recheck, and readdress all areas as needed.
Although every effort is made to remove the snow and ice it is inevitable that you will have to traverse over snow and ice on your way into the office. It is recommended that you wear boots or shoes with a grip, flat, sole. Once in the office you can change to the footwear of your choice. Think safety first.
All of the mentioned resources make an outstanding effort to provide a cleared walk way for employees and citizens to go into County facilities. If you have any concerns or problems, please call Environmental Services at 419-782-5442. Have a safe winter.Labor and Containment
Environmental & Administrative Services also provides assistance with labor for file and office moves, setup and tear down of the Defiance County Fair, and a variety of county projects. We will provide barrels for garbage and recycling containers for community events such as homecomings, car shows, and fund raisers. Check out our Lend-A-Bin program for containers. We are here to serve the public and if we can help you in any way, please call us at (419) 782-5442.
