NEWS RELEASE

Monday, March 6, 2017

The Board of Defiance County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 6, 2017 in the Second Floor Conference Room of the Commissioners’ Session Room at 500 Court Street, Defiance, Ohio 43512. Commissioner Ryan Mack called the meeting to order. Also present were Commissioners Gary Plotts and Mick Pocratsky, 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.

Warren Schlatter, Defiance County Engineer met with the Commissioners to provide a weekly update for the Engineer’s Office and Landfill. Warren stated that the crews will be working on replacing culverts and radius improvements in preparation of the 2017 Paving Program.

Norm Tadsen and Orville Clark, Defiance County Master Gardeners, met with the Commissioners to provide an update on the Community Garden. The Community Garden was started 9 years ago at Defiance County East. There are now 24 plots available, and there is usually a waiting list every year. The Commissioners approved providing $1,000.00 for the purchase of new dirt for the Community Garden. The Commissioners requested assistance from the Defiance County Master Gardeners for a landscaping plan for the Courthouse Complex.

The Commissioners attended the quarterly Defiance Paulding Consolidated Job & Family Services’ Board meeting. As part of WIOA, Area 7 must complete a Local Plan of Services, which must incorporate public input as well as a public comment period. Area 7 hearings will be held in the following locations at the times indicated and interested individuals are invited to testify: March 8, 2017, 10:00 AM, 581 Ledbetter Road, Xenia, Ohio 45385; March 8, 2017, 2:00 PM, 1501 S. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45804; March 9, 2017, 10:00 AM, 25 E. South Street, Jackson, Ohio 45640; March 9, 2017, 2:00 PM, 998 E. Main Street, Newark, Ohio 43055.

Aaron Heilers, Project Manager for the Blanchard River Demonstration Farms, met with the Commissioners to discuss the program. He stated that this is a 5 year, $1 million project that is a partnership of USDA-NRCS and Farm Bureau. The program started in September of 2015 and has three farms that are demonstrating various conservation practices to attempt to find best practice solutions.

The Commissioners presented Good Samaritan School and the Defiance County Board of Developmental Disabilities with a Proclamation declaring March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Release Approved: ____________________________________________________

Ryan Mack, Defiance County Commissioner