NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, JULY 30, 2007

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, July 30, 2007 at 8:30 a.m., in the Conference Room of the Defiance County Commissioners, 500 Court Street, Defiance, OH 43512. Chairman Otto L. Nicely called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas Kime and James Harris, Jr., Becky Wagner, County Administrator, and Joanne Goerlitz, Acting Clerk.

General Session – The Commissioners were presented with various resolutions and documents for approval. The Commissioners reviewed agenda items, and discussed upcoming meetings and events.

Russ Herman, Defiance County Assistant Prosecutor, met with the Commissioners to update the Board on legal issues pending in the Prosecutor’s Office.

The Commissioners discussed issues regarding the high cost of Time Warner running cable lines for cable TV to the Hospice Facility on Rt. 66 in Defiance with Rob Place of Hospice Information Services.

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for his weekly update. Warren updated the Commissioners on three bridge projects. Warren noted that beams will be set this Thursday on Huber Road between Cicero Road and Lake Road. Beams are currently being set on Casebeer-Miller Road South of Hicksville-Spencerville Road. The work is being done by R.G. Zachrich Construction. Beams were set last week on Bostater Road between Mulligans Bluff Road. Harding Road between Watson Road and the Auglaize River Bridge has been closed since June 4, 2007 until approximately August 30, 2007 for a road reconstruction project. Work was contracted to Ward Construction.

Bruce Clevenger, Barbara Rohrs, and Teresa Johnson from the Ohio State University Extension in Defiance County met with the Commissioners for their 2007 Quarterly Update.

Bruce Clevenger, Agriculture Natural Resources Community Development, reported that over 95 area farms attended an Alfalfa Field Day. Alfalfa growers learned about establishing techniques, growing quality alfalfa and marketing alfalfa as a cash crop. Also reported that a new Farmers Market location opened in Hicksville. Participants will now have four opportunities to sell or buy farm products in Defiance County. Markets are opened as follows: Tuesdays at Johnson Memorial Library Parking Lot in Hicksville between 7-11 a.m.; Thursdays, at the Northtowne Mall Main Entrance in Defiance between 3-6 p.m.; on Fridays at the Old Sherwood Elementary School Building in Sherwood between 9-Noon and on Saturdays at the Northtowne Mall Main Entrance in Defiance between 9-Noon. Bruce also noted that the 2007 class of Master Gardeners have completed their 50 hours of horticultural training and the Extension office hosted two pond clinics to educate and demonstrate fish management, weed identification and applying chemicals to the pond.

Barbara Rohrs, Family and Consumer Sciences, reported that five (5) parents attended and completed a parent enrichment program and there are six (6) families currently enrolled is a seven week H.O.P.E. Program that covers family relations, communication, managing anger, family values and goals, and building healthy relationships. Barbara Rohrs also reported that a parent guide has been developed for parents of school age children, “Live Well: Eat Right and Be Active, A Guide to Making Healthy Choices for Children and Parents in Defiance County” The guide will be distributed to families at the beginning of the school year. Also reported that the Family Nutrition Program presented 60 educational sessions with approximately 260 participants.

Teresa Johnson, 4-H Youth Development, reported there are 587 4-H members; 33 4-H Clubs; 115 Volunteers and 111 Cloverbuds. Teresa also reported that Kid’s Central completed its second year under the leadership of Kylee Jackson. This was a five week program held two (2) days each week. Total attendance has been at 125 participants from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Teresa noted that a juvenile diversion program for first time offenders, “Experiences That Count”, is offered at the OSU Extension office for ages 9-14. The youth formed a 4-H club, completed a 4-H project and participated in community service while attending 7 classes on self-esteem, communication, managing, emotions, decision making, responsibility, peer pressure, and goal setting.

The Commissioners attended the Four County Joint Solid Waste District meeting held at the Defiance County Commissioners’ E-911 Conference Room. After the Solid Waste District meeting the Joint Boards of County Commissioners of Defiance and Williams Counties met to discuss objections to assessments from two (2) landowners for the Lost Creek Project #99-8.

The Four County Joint Boards of County Commissioners of Henry, Williams, Fulton and Defiance Counties met to appoint a Representative to the NW Ohio Juvenile Detention, Training and Rehabilitation District. The Joint Boards appointed Ed Ewers term expiring April 30, 2009 and re-appointed Roy Miller term expiring May 1, 2012 to serve on the Advisory Board of the Northwest Ohio Juvenile Detention, Training and Rehabilitation District.

The Commissioners conducted the Farmer-Mark Tile Project Continued Hearing at the Farmer Fire Hall in Farmer Township. The Hearing was continued from June 25, 2007 to give landowners affected by the Project time to reach a mutual agreement to do the Project privately. On March 14, 2007 a Petition for Construction of Ditch Improvement was filed in the Board of Defiance County Commissioners’ office to alleviate flooding of property and roadways with the watershed and provide an outlet for roof and septic drainage beginning in the vicinity of Farmer-Mark Road South of SR 249 in Farmer Township. After review of the project with the landowners, the Commissioners approved proceeding with the Farmer-Mark Tile Project.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner