NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, October 15, 2007 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 L. Kime and James E. Harris, Jr., Laura Howell, Administrator, Cara Brown, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy 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 Prosecuting Attorney, and Karen Tubbs, Defiance County Treasurer, met with the Commissioners to discuss county investments / bank accounts under one County Federal Tax Identification Number. Karen will be obtaining information on investments / bank accounts. A meeting will be set for all elected officials once the information is obtained.

Russ Herman met with the Commissioners and provided an update on pending legal issues in the Prosecutor’s office.

Dennis Miller, Maumee Valley Planning Organization Director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the 2007 Formula Grant. The Village of Ney was not able to utilize their allocated amount of the grant so the Commissioners have authorized Maumee Valley Planning to re-allocate the money to other projects.

Warren Schlatter, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to provide his update. Warren advised that Blosser Road, west of 127 has been temporarily re-opened. Williams Center Cecil Road south of Blosser Road should be re-opened this week. Crews are still working on chip sealing on Blosser Road.

Greg Reinhart, Wastewater Director, met with the Commissioners to provide his September, 2007 update. Greg advised that the electrical board on the express sewer pump station is still being worked on. The Middle Gordon Creek blower line needs fixed. The Wastewater department has greased and oiled all plants and pump stations.

Greg Reinhart and Ken Maag, Poggemeyer Design Group, met with the Commissioners to discuss repairs at the Belden Addition pumping station and building. The estimate for the repairs is approximately $50,000-$60,000. A hearing will be set to discuss the issues further with Beldens Addition residents at a later date.

Anderzack-Pitzen, Russ Herman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, Warren Schlatter, County Engineer, and Greg Reinhart, Wastewater Director met with the Commissioners in Executive Session to discuss pending litigation. Executive Session ended with no decision being made.

Kirk Slusher, Ohio Department of Transportation, Mike Ketchum and Bob Pohl of Advantage Powder Coating, Jeff Leonard and Denny Cline of Defiance City, and Warren Schlatter, County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to discuss Advantage Powder Coatings concerns over truck traffic. Advantage Powder Coating handles approximately 400 trucks a day through their facilities. Mike Ketchum advised that there are many times that it is hard for their truck drives to exit the property onto 281. Advantage Powder Coating has requested ODOT and Defiance City to discuss possible solutions to this concern. The State and City have agreed to work together to find a possible solution.

On October 11, 2007 the Board of Commissioners passed a resolution forming the Defiance County Port Authority Board. The members of the Port Authority Board are as follows: Jim Ehlinger – OmniSource Corp., Tim Small – Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce, Lisa Stauffer – First Federal Bank, Hicksville, Mickey Schwarzbek – Sherwood State Bank, Sherwood, and Ed Yoder – Welles Bowen Realty. Dennis Miller of Maumee Valley Planning Organization will serve as administrative and clerical support for the Port Authority.

A Four County Solid Waste District meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 22, 2007 at 1:30 pm., immediately following will be a meeting to discuss a Regional Port Authority for the following counties: Defiance, Henry, Fulton, Paulding and Williams

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner