Voters may be asked to renew two levies this fall–one of which failed to garner voter approval last fall.
At the July 12 meeting, the Lucas County commissioners passed a resolution of necessity to place a five-year, 0.17-mill renewal levy for Imagination Station on the November 8 ballot. The request was rejected in 2021 when the science center sought a higher amount, 0.197 mills to replace the original 0.17 mill levy. That levy would have generated $1.5 million annually and cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $6.91 per year.
Voters first approved the 0.17-mill levy in November 2008 after several attempts to pass a levy at what was then COSI, forcing the facility to shutter its doors.
The commissioners also accepted a recommendation from the Lucas County citizens levy review committee to place a renewal of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library’s expiring 3.7-mill, fiveyear operating levy.
In other election-related matters, the commissioners accepted $571,125 in grant funding from the Ohio Secretary of State’s office for the August special election and an additional $10,000 Help America Vote Act grant. The funds will be used to enhance election cybersecurity physical security.
They also entered into an agreement with Communica for marketing services, at a cost of $50,000, related to the relocation of the board of elections and the new early vote center.
Personnel
The commissioners acted on several personnel matters, including a change in appointment status for Jacob James and Constance Whaley. They have been moved from temporary to permanent status in the department of jobs and family services with their pay rates remaining $17.51 per hour.
Willie Perryman Jr. is transferring from the project coordinator position to the program specialist in the department of diversity, equity and inclusion, effective July 17. His pay remains $27.93 per hour. The commissioners also hired Laurie Bailey as a custodial worker at an hourly rate of $15.57.
Enterprise Zone Agreements
The commissioners approved two enterprise zone agreements with S6 Holdings and NOW Industries for 10-year, 60 percent tax exemptions on real and tangible property.
S6 Holdings plans to invest $1.6 to $2 million into a new 13,500-square-foot building to house H2flow Controls which produces flow meters for the swimming pool market. It will be located at 7629 New West Road, Toledo.
The investment will result in the creation of about seven full-time and one part-time positions and a new annual payroll of $925,000 to $1.125 million.
NOW Industries is investing $5 to $6 million on an expansion of their current 11,876-square-foot building. The company is adding 19,200 square feet to their building at 10730 Logan Street, Whitehouse.
The expansion will result in the need for 31 full-time employees over the next five years with payroll expected to increase from $1.5 million annually to $3.275 million by 2027.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners:
•Purchased property at McCord Road and Dorr Street for the roundabout project at a cost of $22,341. In addition, the commissioners revised a joint real estate agreement in connection with the roundabout project. The agreement, between ODOT and the county engineer, was changed to reflect the amount of $450,000, up from the previous $420,000.
They approved a cost estimate of $465,000 for the Bancroft Street and McCord Road resurfacing project. Bancroft will be resurfaced from St. James Wood to west of McCord and McCord north of Bancroft to Regents Park in Springfield and Sylvania townships.
•Accepted an Ohio Department of Youth Services 2023 grant award of $3.12 million for the youth treatment center.
•Approved a joint cooperation agreement with Springfield Township for the Stone Oak plat 1 and Nebraska Avenue Ohio Public Works Commission project.
•Awarded the contract for resurfacing Holland-Sylvania Road to the Shelly Company of Findlay for $1.43 million.
•Allocated $179,000 to support several community partners. They are Nature’s Nursery, $102,000; Jeep Fest, event sponsor, $50,000; Glass City Jazz Fest, event sponsor, $25,000, and Folds of Honor Golf clinic, event sponsor, $2,000.
•Authorized a change order to Hank’s Plumbing and Heating for the Morrison ditch drainage improvement of $17,928, bringing the project total to $380,472.
•Set a first hearing for the Ford ditch improvement project for 2 p.m., Tuesday, October 4, at the commissioners hearing room.
•Approved the purchase of a 2015 Ford F-250 plow and salt spreader from Price Pro for $34,283.
•Entered into an agreement with Mannik and Smith Group for explosive gas monitoring at the former King Road landfill for $39,500.
•Released a Community Housing Impact and Preservation (CHIP) program mortgage for David C. Wood II and Julie Wood of Clark Street, Holland. The couple had received a CHIP loan for $41,887, and for each year they complied with terms of the note, 10 percent of the principal was forgiven for a maximum reduction of $20,944.
•Agreed to seek bids for improvements at several facilities. They are the juvenile justice center shower refurbishment estimated to cost $170,000; parking lot repairs at the court of appeals, Cooley Canal emergency medical services and the correctional treatment facility at a projected cost of $600,000, and asbestos removal at 3210 Monroe Street.
•Entered into an agreement with children services for Kin ship Caregiver program services to provide temporary assistance to needy families at a cost of $400,124. The agreement runs through June 30, 2023.
•Renewed the IBM annual subscription and support agreement with MAPSYS Systems and Solutions of Columbus for $52,890. The integrated justice system contract expires April 22, 2024.
•Approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county prosecutor’s office and department of job and family services for $97,099. The prosecutor will perform legal functions for JFS through June 30, 2023.
•Authorized Lucas County Family and Children First Council to apply for a Strong Families Safe Communities grant of $325,000.
•Approved a request from the sheriff’s office to apply for a justice assistance grant through the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council for $286,079. If awarded the grant funds would be split up as follows: Toledo police, $140,179; sheriff’s office, $60,076, and CCC program and administration, $85,824.
•Awarded an agreement for inmate commissary services at the corrections center to Keefe Commissary Network. A revenue generating contract, it is estimated to generate $168,000.
•Retained Shumaker, Loop and Kendrick as a consultant for the construction project at 701 and 711 Adams Street in Toledo.
The commissioners next meeting is at 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 26, in the commissioners hearing room, first floor, One Government Center, Toledo, and is open to the public.
