NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 22, 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., and Stephanie Metz, 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 discussed the CCNO budget. In 2007, the total operating cost and capital budget was $15,903,201, for a $67.87 per bed per day cost. The proposed 2013 budget is $14,832,902, for a $63.70 per bed per day cost.

The Commissioners authorized the Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney to proceed with necessary measures to have the remaining four landowners connect to the Auglaize River Sewer Project.

Ben Gerken and Jason Roehrig, Defiance County Soil & Water, met with the Commissioners for the bid opening for Ridge Ditch #99-13. The pre-bid estimate was: $67,650.00. The following bids were received: B. Hill’z Excavating, Inc. - $89,075.00; Matt Crum Excavating - $48,850.00; Meck-Donald’s Contracting - $52,367.00; Sand Ridge Excavation - $54,632.00; Zenz Farms, Inc. - $48,374.00. The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and will award at a later date. The pre-bid estimate for the St. Mike’s Tile portion of the project was $18,575.00. The following bids were received: Gerding Ditching - $16,800.00; Matt Crum Excavating - $16,470.00; Meck-Donald’s Contracting - $18,125.00; Sand Ridge Excavating - $23,500.00; Sines Excavating - $22,525.00. The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and will award at a later date.

Vickie Myers, Defiance County Treasurer, Amy Galbraith, Defiance County Clerk of Courts, and Tim Houck, Defiance County Landfill Director, met with the Commissioners for the Third Quarter Investment Advisory Meeting. The Defiance County Investment Portfolio, Landfill Closure Portfolio and Post Closure Portfolio were approved.

Judge Strausbaugh, Defiance County Probate/Juvenile Court, met with the Commissioners for an update.

Randy Buchman met with the Commissioners to discuss placement of City Historical Markers on County property. The Andrew Tuttle Memorial Museum is in the process of identifying Historic Sites in Defiance area. The hope is that our citizens and visitors will develop a greater understanding and appreciation our community's heritage. Three very significant and Historic sites are partially on Defiance County property. The most visible location for the historic signs for these sites are on Defiance County property.

· Mr. Buchman requested to place a sign to mark the location of Camp Trimble. Near Beide Avenue. Camp Trimble was created in the fall of 1861 as a training camp for the 38^th Ohio Regiment. This camp was used for the basic training of this unit until it was shipped out for active duty in the Civil War.

· He also requested to place a double-sided sign on the Defiance County East Campus to mark the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and German Prisoner of War Camp (which were located at the same location).

§ Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. In 1933 a ten acre tract was created in the east end of Defiance to house the CCC working at Independence Dam. In 1935 the CCC was relocated to West Virginia and the site was used as the base for the junior camp. The members of the junior camp were working under the direction of the Department of Agriculture on drainage projects in northwest Ohio.

§ German Prisoner of War Camp In the summer of 1944 the Ohio Manpower Commission proposed the creation of Prison of War Camp at Defiance as a branch of the Camp Perry in Ottawa County to help satisfy labor needs in northwest Ohio. The Camp was closed in December 1945.

The Commissioners approved the placement of the markers on County property. However, they requested Mr. Buchmann to place a stake in the exact locations for the proposed signs, so the Commissioners can approve them.

Tina Hiler, Defiance County Senior Services Director, met with the Commissioners in executive session for personnel, hiring per Ohio Revised Code Section 121.222 (G) (1) with no decisions being made in executive session.

Timothy Biggam, Ohio Department of Transportation Innovation Office, met with the Commissioners to discuss the turnpike.

Due to scheduling conflicts the advertised meetings with Jason Roehrig, Defiance County Soil & Water, and Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, will be held at a later date.

The Commissioners’ Office received a concern from a citizen regarding the safety of the Hire Road CSX railroad crossing. The Commissioners will contact the County Engineer to see if there are any funding opportunities for a railroad grade separation project for this location.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Thomas L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner