The Lucas County commissioners are urging the public to participate in the Ohio EPA’s process to develop and implement a total maximum daily load (TMDL) for the Maumee River watershed to combat algal blooms and sources of nutrients that accelerate blooms.
“We must have a TMDL that is effective and will set limits on dissolved reactive phosphorous, which is the major driver of harmful algal blooms,” Commissioner Gary Byers said.
“Failure to set effective measures on dissolved reactive phosphorous won’t get us to the target of a 40 percent reduction of nutrients entering the western basin,” added Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak.
The Ohio EPA’s final draft of the TMDL will be formalized by the end of this year and submitted to the U.S. EPA for approval next year.
September 20 Meeting
The commissioners awarded medical supply and medications price agreements to several suppliers.
They are Bound Tree Medical of Dublin, $275,000; Henry Schein Inc., of Melville, New York, $12,000; Stryker Sales Corporation of Portage, Michigan, $6,000; Teleflex LLC of Morrisville, North Carolina, $45,000; Zoll Medical Corporation of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, $26,000, and HemaSource Inc., of Columbiana, $4,000.
The board also entered into several early start agreements for the 701 and 711 Adams Street project. CBRE will provide owners representative guidance during the definition phase of building renovations at $72,720.
They also reached an agreement with the Collaborative for architectural and engineering guidance for $274,983, and Lathrop for construction management guidance for $95,130.
In other business, the commissioners:
•Accepted easement for the Jeffers Road bridge replacement project with Timothy A. and William A. Roth, $600; Dennis J. and Rhonda Mokri, $300, and Wittes Family Farms Ltd., $300.
•Accepted a grant award of $19,000 from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for juvenile justice and delinquency prevention. The funds will be used for the film program and art mural project.
They also accepted a Hazard Mitigation Grant of $45,000. The grant requires a 10 percent match or $5,000.
•Amended an agreement with Kinship Caregiver Services, providing an additional $323,928 in temporary assistance for needy families.
September 13 Meeting
Several personnel appointments were approved at the meeting. James Garber was named continuing education program administrator in the emergency services department at an hourly rate of $43.27. Also in emergency services, Jason Hosler was hired part time as an equipment technician II for $20 per hour.
Asha Barnes was appointed director of systems integration in the administration department at $58.69 per hour; Jennifer Baskey was employed as economic support worker in the department of job and family services for $15.16 per hour, and Lynn Thompson was hired as a certified inspector for the planning and development department at a rate of $36.38 per hour.
During the afternoon session, the commissioners approved several road projects.
They purchased property for the Brint and Centennial roundabout project from the France Stone Company, aka Hanson Aggregates Midwest Inc., for $11,740.
They also awarded Griffin Pavement Striping of Fremont long line striping at a cost of $196,316.
With regard to the Perrysburg- Holland Road bridge replacement project over Cairl Creek, they approved plans, specs and a cost estimate of $918,467. The bridge replacement will be funded by ODOT 100 percent up to $842,700.
In other business, the commissioners:
•Rejected and agreed to rebid the county parking lot repair project at four facilities because bids exceeded the engineer’s estimate by more than 10 percent.
They also rejected bids and agreed to rebid the 6th District Court of Appeals improvements with estimates exceeding by more than 10 percent the estimated cost of $336,056.
•Awarded a contract to Lake Erie Electric of Toledo for LED lighting retrofit at the Sixth District Court of Appeals for $222,000.
•Appointed Benjamin Pushka to the water quality council and subcommittees of the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Governments through December 31. They also appointed John Brosnan to the county convention and visitors bureau board of trustees through 2025.
•Accepted the Violence Against Women Act grant of $40,757 to support the integrated investigations program in the sheriff’s department.
•Utilized the county’s master equity lease agreement with Enterprise FM Trust to lease five vehicles and sell five vehicles at an estimated annual lease payment of $43,052.
•Purchased five 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokees for the sheriff’s department from Yark Automotive Group for $251,667.
•Renewed a sheriff’s department agreement with NuCentury Textile Services of Toledo for laundry services at a total cost of $70,000. The contract runs through September 22, 2023.
