NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2012 in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio. Chairman Thomas L. Kime called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners James E. Harris, Jr. and Otto L. Nicley, Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Lanetha 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, met with the Commissioners to provide her weekly update. Laura informed the Board of the following 2011 trends from the Senior Center:

In 2011, the Senior Center provided transportation in the form of 14,176 one-way trips totaling 106,540 miles. Most transports will be to doctor appointments, therapy appointments, dialysis treatment centers and grocery shopping. Of those trips, 2,496 trips were for in-county medical purposes while 904 trips were for out-of-county medical trips. By comparison, in 2010 the Senior Center provided 11,895 one-way trips totaling 98,635 miles. Of those trips, 2,586 were for in-county medical trips and 803 out-of-county medical trips. From 2010 to 2011 there was an increase of 19.18% of one-way trips, and increase of 8.01% increase of miles driven, a 3.48% decrease for in-county medical and a 12.58% increase in out-of-county medical. A $1.00/mile donation is suggested for this transportation.

Rest and Recuperation: The Senior Center provides rest and recuperation by trained volunteers to the homes of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia in order to give the caregiver a needed period of respite. Alzheimer’s Visits: 2011 – 495 visits; 2010 – 431 visits and 2009 – 433 visits. In 2011, 741.5 hours were donated by trained Rest and Recuperation volunteers.

John Fifer and Lavon Wiles, Defiance County Fairboard, met with the Commissioners regarding Defiance County Fairgrounds improvements. The Fairboard would like to have some electrical issues repaired as well as some of the buildings’ roofs coated. The Commissioners requested the Fairboard obtained and provide the Commissioners with additional quotes, so that the Commissioners can determine the amount of work the Commissioners will do in 2012. The Commissioners are also obtaining quotes to install a rat wall and sidewalk around the County Government Building.

The Commissioners also attended the Planning Commission Meeting and the Ridge Ditch Final Hearing.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner