NEWS RELEASE

DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2013 in the Hicksville Village Council Room, Hicksville, Ohio. Vice-Chairman James E. Harris, Jr. called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioner Thomas L. Kime, Sherry Carnahan, Fiscal Manager/Administrator, and Stephanie Metz, Clerk. Commissioner Otto L. Nicely attended the sessions held in the Commissioners’ Office.

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 approved a Regular Annexation Petition of 4.165 acres of real estate in Richland Township (Enterprise Addition to East Defiance) into the City of Defiance.

The Commissioners approved an Enterprise Zone Agreement with A&P Tool, Inc. This agreement has been recognized and endorsed through Resolution by the Village of Hicksville, and Hicksville Exempted School District. NW Partnership LLC shall expand their building by 11,200 square feet for their welding and fabrication division. The building will be attached to the current building and will extend off the back 18’ wide by 140’ deep. It will be built with an indoor truck pit and an overhead crane. The approximate cost of the real property improvements shall be $500,000. A&P Tool Inc. shall purchase and install additional industrial equipment in the amount of $630,000. The total investment for this PROJECT by the Enterprise will be One Million One Hundred Thirty Thousand Dollars ($1,130,000), plus or minus 20%. The estimated investment at cost in real property improvements that shall be covered by this Enterprise Zone Agreement is Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000). The PROJECT will begin by October, 2013, and all aspects of the project will be concluded by December, 2014. A&P Tool Inc. will create six (6) permanent full-time jobs which will result in approximately Two Hundred Twelve Thousand One Hundred Sixty Dollars ($212,160) in annual payroll for the Enterprise. A&P Tool Inc. will also retain six (6) permanent full-time jobs associated with the project which will continue approximately Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) in annual payroll for the Enterprise. A&P Tool Inc. presently has sixty two (62) employees working in the state of Ohio. Defiance County granted NW Partnership LLC and A&P Tool Inc. (the combined business entities) a tax exemption pursuant to Section 5709.62, 5709.63, or 5709.632 of the Ohio Revised Code for real property improvements made at the Hicksville Village PROJECT site in the following amounts: 70% with the consent of the Hicksville Exempted School District and the Four County Career Center School District Boards of Education, on real property improvements as part of the PROJECT, for a period of ten (10) years. The exemption commences the first year for which the real property would first be taxable were that property not exempted from taxation. No exemption shall commence after 2015 or extend beyond 2025. The minimum investment in real property improvements required for the real property to qualify for the exemption is $400,000. The maximum investment for real property to qualify for the exemption is $00,000 at the facility as a result of the project.

Mike Laskey, Clinton Circle Apartments, met with the Commissioners to discuss their proposed renovation project. They are planning to apply for a 9% tax credit (federal funds) through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program for renovations and upgrades to the current facility. Mr. Laskey stated that the project is approximately $5 million. Of this approximately $3.5 million would be paid via the tax credits; the remainder would be paid via an FHA loan and owner contributions. The tax credits are for 15 years with an extension of 15 years.

The Commissioners’ Office recently received the monthly activity report from Defiance County Recorder Cecilia Parsons. During September there were the following instruments filed: 158 deeds, 145 mortgages, 149 releases and 6 powers of attorney. This compares to 136 deeds, 147 mortgages, 223 releases, and 9 powers of attorney during September 2012. There were receipts of $ 23,973.25, of which $ 11,653.00 went to the Housing Trust Fund and $10,484.25 to the General Fund. This compares to $ 25,167.50 in receipts in September 2012, of which $12,269.00 went to the Housing Trust Fund and $10,846.50 to the General Fund.

The Johnny Appleseed Festival is being held at Auglaize Village this weekend. It begins at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday and is from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Otto L. Nicely, Defiance County Commissioner