NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2007

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, December 17, 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

Russ Herman, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on legal matters in the Prosecutor’s office.

The Commissioners passed the 2008 General Fund Budget in the amount of $11,022,569.99. This is a 1.34% increase from 2007.

Wayne Olsson, Board of Elections Director, and Pam Schroeder, Deputy Director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the Board of Elections needs for additional funds. These funds are needed to help cover the cost of the required mailer. The mailer is to be sent to all registered voters advising them of their voting place, precinct and what identification is needed. The mailer will be for the March Primary.

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners and opened quotes for the Farmer-Mark Ditch Tile project. Bids were received from J & M Excavating, Inc.: $12,479.50, Builder Pride LLC: $12,040.00, Lingvai Excavating: $18,002.80, Sand Ridge Excavating: $12,171.45, Sines Excavating LLC: $12,114.47, and Sloan Excavating & Trucking: $14,478.44. Warren will review all the bids and then make a recommendation to the Commissioners.

Bruce Clevenger, Theresa Johnson and Barb Rohrs of the OSU Extension Office, met with the Commissioner to provide a quarterly update. Bruce advised that their office presented “Ag and Food Industry: $256 Million Industry in Defiance County” at the Ag Appreciation Breakfast to over 90 participants. The Ag and Food sector in Defiance County is #1 in Jobs, #2 in Gross County Product and #1 in Land Use (79%).

Bruce also reported that 84 area farmers recertified their Private Pesticide Applicators License by attending a local training session. There are currently over 170 farmers that are licensed in Defiance County and must obtain 3 hours of recertification every three years.

The Extension office offered a training session titled Computerized Farm Record Keeping and 11 area farmers attended. The course utilized Quicken® software and outlined how to setup farm/home accounts, categorize income and expenses, and generate reports.

There was an Alfalfa Field Day held and over 95 farmers participated. Alfalfa growers learned about establishing techniques, why the stand declines, growing quality alfalfa, and marketing alfalfa as a cash crop.

Two Pond Clinics were held to educated and demonstrate fish management, weed identification and applying chemicals to the pond. Additional information was provided on pond aeration, pond safety and managing nuisance wildlife. Forty-seven pond owners attended the clinics.

The Defiance County Master Gardeners have received a statewide Project of the Year Award at the 2007 OSU Master Gardeners Volunteer State Conference. The group contributed to the revitalization of Sherwood Memorial Park and was recognized for outstanding contributions in education and service to the community. Forty-one Master Gardeners volunteered 4085 hours in 2007, and increase of 31% over 2006 hours volunteered.

Barb Rohrs, Family & Consumer Science area of the OSU Extension office, advised that they have had 10 families participate in the New Start Program. New Start is a Department of Justice approved program for bankruptcy filers and fulfills requirements for pre-discharge financial education. Family & Consumers Science also had 70 people attend a food safety program – ServSafe for Food Handlers. Participants completing the program received certification from the national Restaurant Association. Other food safety programs were conducted in several locations throughout the county.

The 2007 Family Nutrition Program grant, sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, totaled over $36,000 and reached 955 participants. This program targets food stamp recipients with nutrition education, food safety and food budgeting.

Theresa Johnson, 4-H Youth Development, advised that there will be 8-10 children will be attending the Junior Fair Conference in January. The 4-H Educator was one of 20 Extension professionals selected to participate in the Blended e-Learning II: Youth Workforce Preparation. The objectives of this program are: 1) Develop a better understanding of what the Workforce Preparation Initiative is, key issues regarding the current situation in Ohio, implications for youth and how to enhance local programming. 2) Provide hands-on technical training to Extension professional in order to develop skills needed to learn and teach using new technology. 3) Provide equipment/software needed to participate in this training and future teaching/learning opportunities, and develop teaching tools for use by OSU Extension professionals and volunteers.

The Defiance County 4-H Endowment has reached $100,000.00. Each year $5,500.00 of this endowment is given back to the Extension Office and is used for scholarships – both college and 4-H camp.

Greg Reinhart and Jan Roehrig, Wastewater Operations, met with the Commissioners and provided the November 2007 report.

The Commissioners attended a planning hearing on the North side plans with Jerry Hayes, Director of Economic Development, Noble Township Trustees and Landowners.

Julie Rittenhouse, Public Safety Director, met with the Commissioners to discuss items that were used by Bobby Olashuk of the Volunteer Connection, to help out in Putnam County during the flooding in August. Julie advised that she is working with the Volunteer Connection to get reimbursed for these items.

Julie also advised that since the County actively participates in the Black Swamp Safety Council, the Bureau of Worker’s Compensation refunded $3,072.25. This refund is a discount on worker’s compensation premium.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner