Crescent-News.com - U.S. senator hosts local discussion

By TODD HELBERG

cnedit@crescent-news.com

Politicians might like to talk, but sometimes they can listen, too.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio proved that Wednesday morning when he hosted a roundtable discussion at Defiance College's Serrick Center. About 20 persons -- the majority of them from Defiance County government or publicly funded agencies -- were invited to attend while about as many others also showed up.

Brown randomly asked guests various questions to determine how his office might be of assistance, but Defiance Mayor Bob Armstrong probably had the most to say, focusing on unfunded EPA mandates.

Brown apparently knew this, having already been asked by Armstrong and city officials to do something about the mandates, and saved the mayor for last.

Armstrong repeated his plea, saying City Hall had already spent $18 million in meeting water and sewer requirements, costs ultimately borne by consumers.

"If there's nothing done, in 10 years your water and sewer bill will be $150 per month for your house," said Armstrong. "We're asking you to take a look at the mandates."

Specifically, Armstrong would like Brown, a first-term Democrat, to help municipalities receive grant funds for EPA mandates, rather than loan money.

Brown sympathized with Armstrong's thoughts, saying "30 years ago the federal government put more money into water and sewer," although he did not cite any figures.

Other impacts on the local economy, such as fuel prices, were also discussed.

Asked to asses the county's challenges, Commissioner Otto Nicely said more funding or assistance is needed for transportation.

He said 40-45 percent of the county's 20,000-strong work force works outside county boundaries while a like number come in.

"We need to give assistance to people to get them back and forth to work," said Nicely. "For the working poor we have to get some sort of transportation. People have to make a choice about gas in their car or food on the table."

Echoing Nicely's concern about the local economy, county Job and Family Services director Jack Graf told Brown that food stamp usage has increased.

"When everyone else (in business) is slow, we are busy," Graf stated.

He said 9 percent of Defiance County's population is receiving food stamps.

"A lot of those people have jobs," Graf explained. "I don't see that turning around until business and industry turns around."

Defiance Area Chamber of Commerce president Tim Small was more optimistic.

He told Brown that the county recently helped launch a regional port authority as an economic development tool.

"I see great value in our location," he said.

Rail could also help this effort, suggested Defiance County Economic Development executive director Jerry Hayes.

"Now is the time for rail to make strides in America," Hayes told Brown.

In particular, Hayes said short line railroads such as Maumee and Western Railroad are key because they link smaller communities.

"Smaller communities have trouble getting rail service," he said.

As for education, Brown quizzed Defiance City Schools superintendent Mike Struble about his thoughts on the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

Struble said his district is having trouble meeting certain NCLB requirements because 22 percent of students are in special education and 40 percent are poor, at least based on the school lunch program.

Assistant superintendent Ian MacGregor added that children in special education are "making progress, but not with their peers."

Struble also noted that the district is making a concerted effort to meet all the NCLB guidelines, but said "we're not going to be able to educate every single child" to the same level.

Another topic was veterans affairs.

County Veterans Service officer Mike Williams reviewed typical procedures for supporting local veterans, and said, "Accessibility to Veterans Administration health care" is a big concern.

Agriculture -- a large component of Defiance County's economy -- also sparked Brown's interest.

Ohio State University Extension agent Bruce Clevenger told the senator that conservation programs are gaining in popularity. He said many farmers have taken advantage of government payments to build filter strips along streams and rivers, thus reducing farm chemical runoff.

In the private sector, two small business owners -- Eric Hench of Chief Supermarket and Steve Lankenau of American Ag Fuels -- discussed their companies' situations with Brown.

Brown asked Hench how his company has met new challenges presented by Wal-Mart's new store.

Hench called Wal-Mart the "best and worst capitalism has to offer." The store's lower prices and wages, he explained, forced Chief to trim some employees' wages by 50 cents an hour.

"We had to have wage and benefit cuts to try to level the playing field," he said.

And, Lankenau suggested that financial incentives for alternative energy producers like American Ag Fuels need to be continued.

Brown responded that Ohio is "really well positioned" to continue searching for energy alternatives with several initiatives underway, including solar and wind power.

He said one way to support such efforts would be through tax breaks.