The Lucas County commissioners have allocated a portion of their federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to HOPE (Helping Our Population Educate) Toledo Pre-K.
At the June 14 meeting, the commissioners provided $1.5 million to be used toward programming for children in Lucas County.
In the resolution, the commissioners noted that the Pre-K program is among eligible uses cited by the U.S. Department of the Treasury as a provision of state and local fiscal recovery funds.
They pointed to a 2019 kindergarten readiness assessment study, which indicated that an estimated 80 percent of children in the community begin elementary school without the skills and knowledge necessary for academic success.
Further, the study demonstrated that early childhood education is linked to lower school absences and higher educational attainment by age 35.
In the future, projections indicate that two-thirds of jobs will require post-secondary education or training, making early investment in childhood academic development imperative.
HOPE will work with daycare providers to administer high quality early childhood education that prepares students for future success.
Personnel
Following an executive session, the commissioners approved the hiring of several people to fill vacant positions.
Anna Brogan-Knight will be the new community engagement manager for Canine Care and Control. A candidate previously approved by the board declined the offer.
Ms. Brogan-Knight will be paid $32.70 per hour.
Three individuals also were hired for Job and Family Services. Sierra Bostic, Sarah Gioiella and Tonya Rogers will be eligibility specialists in the department at a starting pay of $17.51 per hour.
In addition, the commissioners entered into a contract with Tricia Yates to provide certified nurse practitioner services for the Corrections Center, correctional treatment facility and work release at a cost of $45,000. This is the third renewal of her contract and runs from August 1 through July 31, 2023.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners:
•Approved joint cooperation agreements with Jerusalem, Monclova, Spencer, Springfield, Sylvania, Washington and Waterville townships for 2022 drainage improvements. The county will pay Springfield, Sylvania and Monclova townships $90,000 each toward the improvements and $50,000 apiece to the remaining townships.
•Accepted plans, specifications and a cost estimate of $618,000 for the Corduroy Road bridge replacement project.
•Approved an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation for resurfacing a portion of Laskey Road. ODOT will pay 85 percent of the cost up to $355,080.
They also approved an agreement with ODOT for the Airport Highway side path project, and will pay 80 percent of the cost up to a maximum of $352,682.
•Authorized a change order for the purchase of three 2023 Western Star tandem axle truck cabs and chassis from Stoops Western Star of Wapakoneta.
The cost will now be $333,840, an increase of $4,500 per truck over the original agreement.
•Contracted with Aramark Correctional Services to provide food for the corrections center for $860,000. This is the fourth and final renewal option with the company.
•Authorized the sheriff’s department to apply for several grants.
They are Violence Against Women Act to support integrated investigations for $66,541; 2023 Ohio Attorney General’s office crime victims grant for the family outreach DART program, and the American Rescue Plan Act first responder wellness, recruitment, retention and resiliency grant to fund the eight-hour wellness sessions required by all sheriff’s department employees.
•Agreed to advertise bids for sanitary sewer and manhole rehabilitation at the recreation center, 2901 Key Street; capital improvements at 6th District Court of Appeals estimated at $370,000, and demolition of 3210 Monroe and 1819 Canton streets garage estimated at $1.1 million.
•Awarded Comte Construction of Toledo the clerestory windows project at the Court of Common Pleas, 700 Adams Street, for $171,600.
They also awarded 2022- 24 security services at the office complex and conference and learning center to Continental Secret Service Bureau Inc. of Toledo. Total cost over the three-year period will be $306,690.
•Amended an agreement with Pathway Inc. for the summer youth employment program, adding $203,666 for the employment of 50 more youths. The total cost for the program will not exceed $556,763.
•Approved an intergov ernmental agreement with the department of planning development for fiscal monitoring services for $17,000.
•Amended an agreement with Children Services for kinship caregiver services, adding $267,802 to the cost. The funds will be used to serve additional individuals in need.
•Submitted an application to the State of Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program for funding to be used at property near South Avenue and Kuhlman Drive.
•Approved an agreement with Verdanta of Toledo and the county solid waste management district for professional services at a cost of $129,020.
•Contracted with Oracle America at a cost of $70,010 for cloud enterprise resource planning, enterprise performance management and human capital management.
~Jane Maiolo
