NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, February 21, 2013 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 James E. Harris, Jr. and Thomas L. Kime, Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Angelica Abels, 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.

Laura Howell, Administrator, met with the Board to provide her weekly update with various department and project updates.

Randy Vogel, Defiance County Dog Warden, met with the Commissioners for a monthly update. Randy reported investigating 82 calls in January that resulted in 13 dogs taken to the shelter, 21 warnings issued, and 8 citations written. There were 3,488 miles driven and $406.00 received in Municipal Court fines. There has been $53,704.00 received for 2013 dog and kennel licenses, compared to $41,433.00 through January for 2012.

Tim Houck, Defiance County Landfill Director, met with the Commissioners for the bid opening for Defiance County Sanitary Landfill Phase I Cell and Support Structures Construction. The Engineer’s pre-bid estimate for the base bid was $1,925,000.00. The following bids were received: Vernon Nagel, Inc. - $2,179,143.00; Tuscan, Inc. - $1,963,249.00; Miller Brothers - $1,751,595.00; Caskill Remedial Contracting - $2,183,650.86; Ryan, Inc. - $1,920,442.03. The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and will award at a later date.

Greg Reinhart, Defiance County Wastewater Operations Director, met with the Commissioners for a monthly update. Greg reported the following maintenance items being completed: pulled and cleaned pumps at Auglaize River pump station # 7; unplugged pumps at Christy pump station and replaced sump pump; City on Napoleon vacuumed out wet well at Christy pump station; reset motor starters at Express sewer pump station; changed two grinders pumps on Stone Gate Dr.; cleaned Paulding County’s Auglaize River Sewer Pump Station #5 transducer and transducer tube and raised floats; worked on Paulding County Auglaize River Sewer Pump stations. (alarms and primed pump); installed signs at Evansport, Auglaize River and Evergreen Lane Office Complex outfalls with signs required by OEPA; installed new gage for measuring wet well level and had contractor

trouble shoot problem at Christy pump station (Found both gauges that tum on pumps to be bad and ordered new gauges); Contractor worked at Paulding County’s Auglaize River Sewer Pump Station #5, put in new drain line and primed pumps; and worked at Paulding County’s Auglaize River Sewer Pump Station #6 (installed new pulleys and primed pumps). Greg also reported billing out $59,565.34, collecting $72,616.16, and having expenses of $40,605.14 in January.

On Friday, the Commissioners will attend the Defiance County Soil & Water Conservation District’s Annual Planning Meeting.

County commissioners from Defiance, Fulton, Hancok, Hardin, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, Van Wert & Williams counties will be meeting on Monday, February 25, 2013 at the Red Pig Inn in Ottawa, Ohio with area members of the Ohio General Assembly to discuss the state/county partnership and its ability to deliver vital services to the citizens of Ohio during a period of increasing responsibilities and limited resources.

Recognizing that it will be a tight state budget and there has been limited growth in local revenue, it is essential that state and county governments work together closely and cooperatively for the good of their mutual constituents, the people of Ohio.

For many important governmental services counties rely upon the local government funds to implement state policy at the local level. Counties are the primary agents of the state in administering justice and prosecuting criminals; providing health and human services to needy citizens; managing the property tax system; improving infrastructure to foster economic development; and, providing a myriad of other important governmental services to improve the quality of life for all Ohioans.

During these times of fiscal stress, it is vital that the partnership between the state and county government be reaffirmed and strengthened. Ohio’s county governments will be seeking a commitment from the Administration and the General Assembly to county government fiscal security as one of the centerpieces of Ohio’s SFY 2014/2015 biennial budget.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner