NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, MAY 21, 2012

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2012 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., Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Lanie Miller, Deputy Clerk. 

 

In the morning, the Commissioners attended the Regional Growth Partnership Annual Meeting in Toledo, Ohio. The Commissioners met with Dean Monske, President and CEO of Regional Growth Partnership. They also heard the JobsOhio Review/Outlook from David Mustine and Kristi Tanner, JobsOhio General Managers. Regional Growth Partnership was named the lead agent to manage the new JobsOhio program for 17 counties in Northwest Ohio. There was direct involvement with 21 active projects during the last four months of 2011. The Projects account for more than 7,000 new and retained jobs.

 

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.

 

The Commissioners approved an Enterprise Zone Agreement with FWT, LLC.  Defiance County is granting a tax exemption of 80% with the consent of the Hicksville Exempted School District and the Four County Career Center School District Boards of Education, on real property improvements as part of the Project, for a period of ten (10) years. FWT, LLC. shall make improvements and modifications to existing buildings at 761 W. High Street, Hicksville, Ohio and construct building additions at the same address. These investments shall support the establishment of an industrial facility for the fabrication of steel towers and components for the electric and telecommunications industries. The investment qualifying for the Exemption in the renovated facility shall be approximately $4,940,000.00 (Improvements to existing building and additions/new construction). The total investment for this Project by FWT, LLC. will be $13,840,000.00, of which $6,800,000 will be machinery and equipment. FWT, LLC. will create 200 permanent full-time jobs which will result in approximately $7,000,000.00 in annual payroll for the company.

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for his weekly update.  Warren informed the Commissioners that they highway crew is currently replacing a culvert on Coressel Road between Adams Ridge Road and Bostelman Road.

 

Jack Graf and Corey Walker, Defiance County Job & Family Services, met with the Commissioners for an update. Jack and Corey both stated that so far the transition is running smoothly.

 

 

Release Approved:  ____________________________________________________  

                                                Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner