At the October 18 meeting, the Lucas County commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding between Lucas County Canine Care and Control and Humane Ohio, allocating $19,550 for the Big Fix program in 2023.
Funds will be used to spay or neuter 230 pit bull or pit bull mix dogs with the owners only being charged $15. The commissioners have supported the program since its inception in 2016.
Perrysburg Rotarian Steve Serchuk’s love of animals inspired him to start the Big Fix, which provides pet owners with low cost spay/neutering service through Humane Ohio of Toledo. The only condition is that the pet must be licensed.
In an interview in 2020, Mr. Serchuk said he was “pleasantly surprised” how well the program has done over the year, noting it has expanded to Wood County where the commissioners also support it.
Despite its success, he points out there are still a number of pets not spayed each year and encourages dog owners have their pet neutered.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners: •Entered into a multi-year, electronic monitoring agreement with BI Incorporated of Boulder, Colorado. The cost per year will be 2022, $120,543; 2023, $478,242; 2024, $479,552; 2025, $478,242; 2026, $478,242, and 2027, $161,161.
•Accepted a selective traffic enforcement program grant of $93,590 for the sheriff’s office. The funds will be used for the 2023 impaired driving enforcement program. The commissioners also accepted an OVI task force grant for $225,000 and a 2023 crime victims grant of $65,158 for the family outreach component of the DART program.
•Approved a request by the county engineer’s office to apply for federal surface transportation program funds of $500,000 for a Holland Sylvania Road project.
•Appointed Stefanie Peer to the county family and children first council, effective immediately and expiring June 30, 2024.
•Accepted a grant award of $97,116 from the Ohio attorney general’s office for the county CASA (court appointed special advocate) department.
•Entered into an agreement with Orkin pest control of Toledo to provide services and treatments at all county owned and operated buildings. The oneyear contract for $73,500 takes effect January 1, 2023.
•Renewed an annual agreement with Allied Building Service Company to provide janitorial supplies at a cost of $100,000, effective January 1, 2023.
•Approved three agreements at the request of the job and family services department. The first is with Toledo Public Schools for $160,000 to fund the expectant and parenting student program. They also contracted with YMCA of Northwest Ohio for provision of the reducing the risk and teen pregnancy outreach programs at a cost of $557,000, and with United Way of Greater Toledo for the 2-1-1 information and referral services at a cost of $175,000.
•Transferred at no cost six LifePak 15 cardiac monitors to Toledo Fire and Rescue.
•Adjusted the employment status of Robert Garrett from temporary to permanent in the canine care and control department. His salary will remain the same at $15.88 per hour.
•Accepted an annexation petition filed by Jordan Daughtery for 7.88 acres on Finzel Road in Waterville Township. Mr. Daughtery is requesting the acreage be annexed into Whitehouse.
~Jane Maiolo
