To continue the summer concert series in downtown Toledo this year, the Lucas County commissioners approved the allocation of $100,000.
At the March 14 meeting, the commissioners agreed to help ProMedica continue the summer entertainment at Promenade Park, contending that the concerts “attract tens of thousands to the downtown riverfront each summer, stimulating robust economic activity.”
ProMedica has had to scale back its funding for the program and has, as a result, cut the series in half from eight to four acts this summer and seek alternate sources of funding.
The health care organization hopes to raise $300,000 and sought $100,000 apiece from the county and City of Toledo.
Commissioner Pete Gerken believes the series should continue. “The board recognizes the tremendous importance such economic development drivers provide to the community.” Lawsuit Settlement A lawsuit filed two years ago by county job and family service employees has been settled.
In 2021, Penny Wilson, Theresa Fannin and Kozait Elkhatib filed a lawsuit against the AFSCME Ohio Council 8 union and the county charging them with unlawfully seizing dues money from their paychecks, asserting it was a violation of the First Amendment.
According to the settlement agreement, Council 8 will return to the plaintiffs previously collected union dues, and the commissioners will not deduct union dues or fees from the plaintiffs unless they sign another dues deduction agreement.
Appointments
A number of reappointments to boards were approved by the commissioners. They are:
•Megan Malczewski and Josh Hughes, Toledo-Lucas County plan commission for three-year terms expiring March 31, 2026.
•Deidre Washington and Heather Dunzweiler, Family and Children First Council, for as long as they remain in their current county positions.
•Sean McNulty, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, retroactive to January 1 and running through December 31.
•Angela Goodnight, Gary Loach, Mary Kellerbauer, Scott Noonan, Rochelle Rollins, Lauren Notestine and Charletta Slaughter, commission on disabilities, through February 28, 2025.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners: •Accepted a youth grant application of $3.18 million for youth treatment from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024. The grant pays all operating costs for the center.
•Awarded a contract to resurface Laskey Road to Gerken Paving Inc., of Napoleon for $365,100.
•Amended a memorandum of understanding between juvenile court, mental health and recovery board and the national youth advocate program for family functional therapy. It stipulates the agreement is for $152,075 and runs from February 1 to June 30.
•Approved an agreement between the Village Network, county commissioners and juvenile court for placement services. The agreement runs through December 31, 2025, at an annual cost of $300,000.
•Accepted an anti-vehicular no access easement of two feet for 5445 Weckerly Road.
•Approved an agreement between the county commissioners and juvenile court and the Zepf Center. The center will provide mental health services between February 1 and July 31, for $25,000.
•Accepted an emergency management performance grant for $200,209.
•Awarded a contract to Lakeside Interior Contractors of Perrysburg for renovations to the conference room at the juvenile justice center, 1801 Speilbusch Avenue.
The company bid was for $184,500, which came in $10,000 less than the architect’s estimate of $194,500. Lakeside Interior was the one of four companies to submit a bid under the estimate.
•Entered into an agreement with Communica for $91,100. The company will develop and execute a recruitment campaign to fill open positions at the department of job and family services and canine care and control.
•Amended a private agreement for sanitary sewer and water supply line at Rutherford subdivision plat two in Monclova Township.
•Agreed to advertise for vending services at several county locations. They are adult probation, children services, corrections center, canine care and control, youth treatment center, sanitary engineer/ solid waste, shared services, centralized drug testing, family court and juvenile justice center.
•Amended their schedule, canceling a meeting scheduled for March 28.
~Jane Maiolo
