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By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

Commissioners from several area counties are doing some brainstorming to determine what services -- if any -- can be regionalized.

During its first-quarter meeting in Bryan last month, the Joint Board of County Commissioners from Defiance, Fulton, Henry and Williams counties discussed the idea. Paulding County commissioners, who earlier had attended a regional solid waste district meeting in Bryan, were also on hand.

"We were just throwing out ideas," said Fulton County Commissioner Joe Short, who was elected president of the joint board. "We have a real good relationship. All commissioners get along very well. We were having a conversation as far as regionalization and the importance thereof. We all realize that dollars are getting very tight, from the federal level to the state down to the counties."

One service that commissioners identified initially is the Ohio State University Extension Office. Most Ohio counties use this service which is not mandated by the state and, in many cases, spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for it.

OSU Extension Office services touch many topics, from assisting 4-H groups to advising farmers on pesticide application to promoting good nutrition and personal finance.

According to Short, Fulton County will spend $254,000 this year for extension services while Defiance County has budgeted $200,965. Henry County contracts with Fulton County for part of it services, having discontinued some extension services recently as a cost-savings measure.

Short emphasizes that officials have no beef with OSU Extension Office services, but want to see if they can be delivered more cost effectively.

"OSU extension is not a mandated serve, but a very valuable service," he said. "What they bring to the respective counties is tremendous, and we understand the value, but are there ways we can cut costs?"

Short says OSU Extension Office personnel will be invited to attend the joint board of commissioners second-quarter meeting in April to discuss the issue further.

Ultimately, though, notes Henry County Commissioner Tom VonDeylen, extension offices would have to agree to any cost-saving changes.

One local OSU extension agent, Defiance County's Bruce Clevenger, indicated that he understands commissioners' goals.

"We know this current budgeting crisis is a result of Ohio's economy and not a reflection on the quality or importance of our work," he said. "We are grateful for the support we have received from county commissioners, legislators and elected officials. Defiance County commissioners continue to support OSU extension because of the value and significance of our work.

"Statewide, OSU extension is developing different staffing models for consideration to address the state budget cuts," Clevenger added. "OSU extension is committed to an extension presence in each county."

The OSU extension service is not the only county program commissioners plan to examine. Short also asked the other commissioners to provide him with ideas about regionalizing other services before the April meeting.

"I asked them to e-mail me or give me a phone call, and I will do whatever research is needed and present it ...," explained Short. "We understand the importance of this. We understand that the taxpayers are maxed out when it comes to taxes."

Two other suggestions that have surfaced are regionalizing indigent legal counsel services for court defendants as well as emergency management.

Although it's unclear whether the commissioners' discussion will lead to future changes, all interviewed for this article agree that regionalization is a good idea.

"I think it's a great idea," said VonDeylen. "If we can do anything as a whole and all of us save money, I view that as good."

"The state government is looking for ways to consolidate things and operate more efficiently, and we look at that every day, too," said Defiance County Commissioner Jim Harris. "Anything we can do to save taxpayer funds ... we have to take a look at."

Defiance County Commissioner Tom Kime notes that area counties are already teaming to provide services in other areas.

These include operating the Corrections Center of Northwest Ohio as well as the Northwest Ohio Juvenile Detention, Training and Rehabilitation Center, both near Stryker, the Four County Solid Waste District and Maumee Valley Planning Organization.