NEWS RELEASE
DEFIANCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
THURSDAY,
OCTOBER 15, 2015
The Board of Defiance County Commissioners
met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 15, 2015 in the
Conference Room in the Commissioners’ conference at 500 Court Street, Suite A, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Commissioner Thomas L. Kime called the
meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners
Ryan Mack and Otto L. Nicely, Sherry Carnahan, Finance Manager/Administrator, and
Stephanie Metz, 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.
The Commissioners’ approved an annexation
petition for 1.736 acres in Richland Township to be annexed into the City of
Defiance (Riverview Addition).
Section 5739.09(A)(10)(a) of the Revised
Code provides that a county that has a population of at least thirty-nine
thousand but not more than forty thousand according to the 2010 federal
decennial census may levy an excise tax at a rate not to exceed three percent
for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping, or repairing permanent
improvements. Defiance County had a population of 39,037 as of the last federal
decennial census; therefore, Board of Defiance County Commissioners is
authorized by a majority of the members of the Board to enact and levy an
excise tax not to exceed three percent (3%) on transactions by which lodging in
a hotel is or is to be furnished to transient guests in Defiance County, Ohio. The
Commissioners established the Defiance County Lodging Excise Tax Code of
Regulations. Jill Little, Defiance County Auditor, has agreed that the Defiance
County Auditor’s Office will administer the Defiance County Lodging Excise Tax
in accordance with the Defiance County Lodging Excise Tax Code Regulations.
The Board recognizes the need to provide for
funding for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping, or repairing
permanent improvements, as defined in Section 133.01 of the Revised Code for
permanent improvements within Defiance County. The Board enacted and imposed an
excise tax on transactions by which lodging in a hotel is or is to be furnished
to transient guests of three percent (3%) pursuant to Section 5739.09 (A)(10),
this tax is be referred to as the Defiance County Hotel Lodging Excise Tax.
This resolution, pursuant to Sections 5739.09 (A)(10)
and 305.31 of the Revised Code, is subject to a possible referendum, and this
resolution may not take effect sooner than 30 days after this resolution is
passed. The Defiance County Hotel Lodging Excise Tax shall be levied and
collected, effective December 1, 2015, with collection to begin as provided in
the Defiance County Lodging Excise Tax Code of Regulations. The proceeds of the Lodging Excise Tax shall
be placed in a separate fund entitled “County Lodging Tax”, effective with
lodging taxes collected on or after December 1, 2015, after deducting 3% of the
receipts for administering the same, as determined by the Auditor, and shall be
spent solely for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping, or
repairing permanent improvements, as defined in Section 133.01 of the Revised
Code. No portion of the Defiance County Hotel Lodging Excise Tax shall be
returned to townships or municipal corporations in the county. The tax shall
remain in effect for a continuing period of time.
Connie Bostelman, Defiance County Child
Support Enforcement Agency Director, met with the Commissioners to provide a quarterly
update.
Tina Hiler, Defiance County Senior Services’
Director, met with the Commissioners to provide a monthly update. Tina reported
that the Old Timer’s Bike Ride raised more than $3,700.00. More than $2,000.00
was raised providing the pop and water at Ribfest. There is a Halloween Bake
Sale on Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th
at the Defiance Center, beginning at 9:00 a.m. each day. There is a Halloween
Party on Wednesday, October 28th at the Multipurpose Building at the
Fairgrounds, beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Thanksgiving Luncheon is on Thursday,
November 19th at 11:30 a.m. at the Defiance Senior Services’
Auditorium.
Randy Vogel, Defiance County Dog Warden, met
with the Commissioners to provide a monthly update. Randy reported investigating
72 calls in September, which resulted in 11 dogs taken to the shelter, 10
citations written, and 15 warnings issued. There were 3,724 miles driven and
$545.00 received in Municipal Court fines.
On Wednesday, the
Commissioners, Economic Development representatives, and Matt Wagner, TetraTech, met with representatives from the US EPA at the
former SK Tools property. The Commissioners were advised that that TetraTech will be working with US EPA representatives from
Cleveland, Ohio to have the ground water testing completed. Hopefully in the
Spring they may have the results.
Release Approved: ____________________________________________________
Thomas
L. Kime, Defiance County Commissioner