NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2013

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25, 2013 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., Laura Howell, Administrator, Stephanie Metz, Clerk, and Angelica Abels, Deputy Clerk.

In the morning, the Commissioners attended the County Commissioners’ Association of Ohio’s (CCAO’s) Regional Legislative Briefing at the Red Pig Inn in Ottawa, Ohio.

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 were recently informed by Tina Hiler, Defiance County Senior Services Director that two donations were recently received. Mercy Hospital/Defiance Clinic recently donated $10,000.00. The Defiance Moose organization recently donated $2,000.00. The Commissioners would like to thank both of these organizations for their support of Defiance County Senior Services.

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer, met with the Commissioners for an update and the bid opening for 2013 Miscellaneous Concrete. Bids were received from the following: Center Concrete, Inc. – Edgerton, Ohio and Baker-Shindler – Defiance, Ohio. The Commissioners took the bids under advisement and will award at a later date.

Morris Murray, Defiance County Prosecuting Attorney, and Russ Herman, Defiance County Assistant Prosecutor, met with the Commissioners for an update on various pending legal matters.

The Commissioners held public hearings to review the permanent base for Derge Ditch and Johns Ditch. Increasing the permanent base does not necessarily increase the landowners’ assessments. It would increase the amount allowed to be retained in the ditch maintenance fund, so that any major repairs could be funded without a dramatic spike in the landowners’ assessment for that year.

Derge Ditch – There was one landowner present for the hearing. Kevin Hancock presented a power point presentation to explain the need to increase the permanent base. The Derge Ditch is 4,500’ long and was petitioned in 1970 with a total construction base of $1,702.30. The average annual cost to maintain this improvement over the last six years has been $404.55. The new proposed construction cost, which was figured at the current construction costs, is $10,125.00. After the presentation and discussions, the Commissioners approved the estimate as the construction cost of the improvement in lieu of the original construction cost of the improvement.

Johns Ditch – There was one landowner present for the hearing. Kevin Hancock presented a power point presentation to explain the need to increase the permanent base. The Johns Ditch is 13,400’ long and was petitioned in 1970 with a total construction base of $4,938.60. The average annual cost to maintain this improvement over the last six years has been $1,603.39. The new proposed construction cost, which was figured at the current construction costs, is $30,150.00. Kevin also stated that during the review for the Johns Ditch, it was found that two additional landowners benefit from this improvement and needed to be added to the schedule of benefits. After the presentation and discussions, the Commissioners approved the estimate as the construction cost of the improvement in lieu of the original construction cost of the improvement and to add the additional benefited owners.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner