NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2007

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 15, 2007 in the Conference Room in the Commissioners Office at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Chairman Otto L. Nicely called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Thomas L. Kime and James E. Harris, Jr., Laura Howell, County Administrator, Cara Brown, Clerk, and Joanne Goerlitz, Deputy Clerk

Ken Keller, First Insurance & Investments, Maggie Neeley, County Employee Benefit Consortium (CEBCO), and Joyce O’Daniel, Anthem, met with the Commissioners to discuss insurance quotes for 2008. The Commissioners have requested additional information from CEBCO before making a decision.

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Warren advised that Banner School Road between Evansport Road and Stever Road will be closed for three (3) days, weather permitting, for a culvert replacement.

Greg Reinhart, Jan Roehrig, Charles Clauson, Jr., Wastewater Operations, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Greg advised that the cost of the repairs at Beldens Addition are still being reviewed. Also, all trailer park meters have been calibrated.

Tina Mohring, Family & Children First Coordinator, and Beth Foreman, Help Me Grow Project Director, met with the Commissioners to provide an update. Tina and Beth advised that the Ohio Department of Health has reviewed programs within the Family & Children First Program and cited two areas for improvements. The Family & Children First Program has developed two Corrective Action Plans that will be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health for their approval.

Randy Vogel, Dog Warden, submitted his October 2007 report to the Commissioners. In the month of October 2007, the Dog Warden’s office received 147 complaints, of these complaints, 61 were within the City. There were 18 citations and 24 warnings issued and 37 dogs were taken to the shelter.

The Commissioners met with the following departments to discuss the 2008 budgets: Jeff Ankney, Soil & Water; Bruce Clevenger, OSU Extension Office; Sheriff Westrick and Morris Murray, Child Support Enforcement Agency.

The Commissioners then went into Executive Session to discuss hiring personnel. Executive Session ended with no decision being made.

The Commissioner’s office will be closing at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 to allow the Commissioners and Staff to attend the mandatory Public Records training per House Bill 9.

All county offices will be closed on Thursday, November 22, 2007 and Friday, November 23, 2007 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner