NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 14, 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 Otto L. Nicely and James E. Harris, Jr., Laura Howell, County Administrator, Cara Brown, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk.

 

The Commissioners met in General Session and approved and signed various resolutions, contracts and documents, approved several travel requests, reviewed the agenda items and the calendar of events and discussed upcoming meetings.

 

Laura Howell, Defiance County Administrator, provided her update to the Commissioners. Laura advised Rhonda Casler, Records Archivist, is requesting that the Commissioners send a letter to Rep. Latta in support of the Preserving the American Historical Record Act. If this act passes, it could mean matching grants available to local governments for preservation of our historical records. These grants could also be used for assistance with electronic records, disaster planning, improving storage conditions, and digitization of damaged or deteriorating records. The Commissioners will be sending a letter of support.

 

Laura advised that she has researched the possibility submitting an application to the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit to try to obtain funds for the courthouse renovation. The Commissioners advised Laura to prepare the application for submission.

 

Laura provided an update from Family & Children First and Help Me Grow on the Home Health Expo that was held at the Northtowne Mall last week. There were four (4) live feeds discussing Family & Children First, Help Me Grow and the Scorecard Program. The Scorecard Program is a program designed to get children active. Family & Children First and Help Me Grow partnered with Defiance College to help children get a jumpstart on their scorecards. Over 85 children joined the Scorecard Program and another 25 entered by mail.

 

Laura also provided an update from the Senior Services Auxiliary Auction that was held on Saturday, February 9th. The Auxiliary raised over $7,700.00 for the building campaign. A thanks goes out to all the vendors, businesses, organizations and individuals who contributed to and helped with the auction.

 

The Commissioners have authorized Ron Cereghin, Maintenance Supervisor, to obtain quotes for the roof replacement of the Key Bank building and a barn at Evergreen Lane Office Complex.

 

Brent Tow and Pam Baynes of Community Health Professionals (Hospice) met with the Commissioners to provide an update of their programs and facilities. Brent advised that their in-patient center is fully operational and is completing its first year of service. The Defiance facility offers home health care, private duty services, hospice in-home and inpatient care services. They also offer several auxiliary services such as health watch, diabetes self-management and massage therapy. The Defiance inpatient facility currently has a staff of 24 and there are 9 home-health nurses.

 

Tim Houck, Landfill Director, met with the Commissioners to make an award recommendation for the Phase II BAT Cell construction. Tim and the Mannik & Smith Group reviewed the bids that were submitted and recommend that the project be awarded to Miller Brothers Construction, Archbold, Ohio. The Commissioners approved the recommendation.

 

The Commissioners met with the Hicksville School Board and Hicksville Village representatives on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in the Hicksville High School Library to discuss a possible road from State Route 18 to State Route 2 and from State Route 2 to State Route 49. The Commissioners will be meeting with Kirk Slusher of Ohio Department of Transportation on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the proposed roadway. The Commissioners will also be attending the Hicksville Village Council meeting on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. for further discussions on the project.

 

There will be no session on Monday, February 18, 2008 in observance of Presidents Day. There will be a special session on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 beginning at 8:45 a.m.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Release Approved:          ____________________________________________________    

                                           Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner