NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009

 

 

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2009 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners’ Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512.  Chairman James E. Harris, Jr. called the meeting to order.  Also present were Commissioners Otto L. Nicely and Thomas L. Kime, Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk and Lanie 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.

 

The Commissioners are in support of Issue 2 to create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board.  Ohio families need the safe, affordable, locally grown food that Ohio farmers provide each day.  That means knowing: animals are healthy and well cared for, food is safe and of the highest quality, locally produced food is available at the grocery store, and farmers are running their farms responsibly and following relevant regulations.  Issue 2 will create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, which will: assure Ohio families have a safe, locally grown food supply, bring together Ohio’s animal care experts to ensure excellent care of the state’s flocks and herds, and maintain the viability of Ohio agriculture—the state’s number one economic contributor.

 

Laura Howell, Administrator, met with the Commissioners and presented her report to the Commissioners.  Laura provided the following department updates:

            Child Support Enforcement Agency:  Sandy Schappert reported that she received notification from the Office of Child Support that the State is committed to providing the $16.8 million for SFY 2010 for child support services.  Collections for Federal Fiscal year 2009 were down 2.22% compared to Federal Fiscal year 2008.

            Wastewater Operations:  Greg Reinhart reported that they will be smoke testing in Lake Christi Meadows on Friday, weather permitting.

 

Randy Vogel, Defiance County Dog Warden, met with the Commissioners for his monthly update.  Randy reported the following for the month of September: 137 calls investigated, 23 dogs taken to the shelter, 23 warnings, 34 citations.  There were 2,648 miles driven for the month and $548.10 received in Defiance Municipal Court fines.

 

Karen Tubbs, Defiance County Treasurer, and Marlene Goodwin, Defiance County Auditor, met with the Commissioners for a quarterly update.

 

 

 

 

 

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for the bid opening for SR 15/18 Christy Road Reconstruction Project.  The following bids were received: Smith Paving & Excavating - $124,097.60; Ft. Defiance Construction - $123,381.30; RMH Concrete & Excavating, Inc. - $115,498.28.  The engineer’s estimate was $124,750.90.  The Commissioners will take the bids under advisement and award at a later date.    

 

Representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, will host a Flood Risk Information Open House on Wednesday, October 21, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Defiance County East, 1300 East Second Street, 2nd Floor Conference Room, Defiance, Ohio.  The Open House will provide Defiance County residents with an opportunity to review a recently completed preliminary Flood Insurance Study and its accompanying preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps. 

 

The Open House will be staffed with representatives from various local, state and federal agencies who will provide the most current information about flood risk, flood insurance, floodplain development regulations, and the process for floodplain mapping within Defiance County.  The newly prepared preliminary floodplain maps will be on display.

 

Property owners, realtors, lenders and insurance agents are urged to attend and take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about flood risk and hazard mitigation within their community.  For more information, contact John Devine, Program Specialist, at (312) 408-5567 or Marge Dworak, Outreach Specialist, at (312) 408-5527.

 

 

Release Approved:  ____________________________________________________                                       James E. Harris, Jr., Defiance County Commissioner