Crescent-News.com - Defiance commissioners seek community wide assessment grant

Defiance County commissioners approved a grant application and discussed insurance during their Thursday meeting.

The grant application will be submitted to the U.S. EPA for a $20,000 communitywide assessment grant.

The county will use the grant to build up its existing economic development programs. According to commissioners, the idea is to help the county "compete with its larger neighbors, incentivize redevelopment of brownfields (old industrial sites), preserve the county's valuable green space and encourage development of a sustainable community."

Also, Ken Keller of First Insurance and Investments met with commissioners to discuss insurance quotes for 2009.

He reported that insurance claims have risen by 27 percent this year compared to 2007.

Commissioners will be meeting with the county insurance committee in the near future to discuss insurance changes.

In another matter, county administrator Laura Howell informed commissioners that Nature's Way will plant trees at Defiance County East and Evergreen Lane Office Complex to replace trees that were recently cut down.