The YWCA of Northwest Ohio received a sizeable boost to its capital campaign.
At the April 12 meeting, the Lucas County commissioners approved the transfer of $2 million in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to support renovation and expansion of the YWCA’s emergency domestic violence shelter in downtown Toledo.
SLFRF funds, a centerpiece of the American Rescue Plan Act, allotted $350 billion to state and local governments to help strengthen the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Among eligible uses for SLFRF are investments designed to address public health and aid to economically disadvantaged individuals and families,” explained Commissioner Gary Byers.
He pointed out that during the pandemic, instances of domestic violence “increased dramatically. The crisis has shown no signs of abating in 2022, with almost half of the Toledo area murders to date related to domestic violence.”
The YWCA, as the sole operator of an emergency domestic violence shelter in Toledo, is currently embarked on a $12 million campaign to renovate its facility.
To ease overcrowding, they plan to increase rooms from 17 to 44 and expand the square footage and footprint of individual rooms to accommodate diverse families. Renovations also will be made to provide space for work searches, homework and recreation.
Contract/Personnel
The commissioners approved a collective bargaining agreement with LAWS bargaining unit in the child support enforcement division of the Department of Job and Family Services.
The new year agreement calls for a 4 percent increase in base pay with a $1,000 lump sum payment retroactive to February 1; no increase with a $4,000 lump sum payment in 2023, and in 2024 an economic reopener.
In other employee matters, the board promoted Mary Kunckel to the position of deputy director in support services at an hourly rate of $41.63. Ms. Kunckel has been serving as interim deputy director since November 18, 2021.
In addition, they amended the table of organization and chart of positions in support services to reflect the addition of a full-time director position.
The commissioners authorized a lateral class change for Michelle Upchurch to fill the position of procurement card administrator at the same pay grade of $32.40 per hour.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners:
•Allocated $8.51 million of SLFRF to Glass City Center, formerly Seagate Convention Centre, for renovation and expansion of the structure.
•Authorized a change order for the purchase of a half-pack front loader truck for solid waste management. The change order for $14,190 to Bell Equipment of Lake Orion, Michigan, reflects an increase in the price from $362,500 to $376,690.
•Rejected bids and agreed to rebid the 2022 bridge repair program. The county engineer’s office explained that the two bids exceeded the engineer’s estimate of $159,935 by more than 10 percent, coming in at $244,226 and $248,076.
•Entered into partnership agreements to support several community organizations at a cost of $145,000. The commissioners noted that the agreement will help “organizations to carry out their missions and help improve the lives of Lucas County residents.”
Receiving funding are African American Legacy Project, $50,000; Center of Hope Family Services, $40,000; Toledo Urban Federal Credit Union, $45,000, and Abri, $10,000.
•Authorized a joint application with Metroparks Toledo for funding to extend the University Parks Trail 0.7 miles from Silica to Centennial roads. The partners are seeking financial assistance through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources recreational trails program or Clean Ohio Trails Fund.
•Approved a change order with Sierra-Cedar of Alpharetta, Georgia, extending the administration department’s support to the benefits team by 90 days at a cost of $44,200.
•Amended an agreement with Yark Automotive Group for the purchase of a vehicle for the Department of Job and Family Services. The purchase price was amended from $24,952 to $26,452, due to the auto group’s decision not to accept two trade-in vehicles.
•Renewed a tower site agreement with Flower Hospital, 5200 Harroun Road, Sylvania. The five-year agreement runs from May 20, 2022 to May 29, 2027.
•Entered into agreements with Crawford and Wood counties to provide autopsy services this year.
•Authorized the sanitary engineer’s office to advertise for an upgrade to the underground storage tank fuel system at the northwest pump station, 3945 North Holland-Sylvania Road.
The engineer is seeking to replace a 2,000 gallon tank with a 4,000 gallon unit.
•Accepted a grant of $60,000 from the Supreme Court of Ohio for the juvenile court improvement program to provide care for opioid-exposed children. The commissioners also entered into an agreement with Vod’s Here, LLC to provide crafting instruction for domestic violence involved families in juvenile court. The $8,000 agreement runs from April 1 to December 31, 2022.
•Appointed three people as the county’s representative to TARTA. Valerie Fatica, Michael Hart and the Rev. W.L. Perryman III will serve on TARTA’s board of trustees for three-year terms expiring April 30, 2025.
•Tabled a decision on an addendum to an agreement between Republic Services and the county solid waste management district for recycling services.
