At the December 6 meeting, the Lucas County board of commissioners approved a general fund budget of $179.9 million and an outside general fund budget of $601.34 million.
The general fund encompasses revenues accrued from taxes, fees, interest and other earnings, which are used for the general operations of the county.
The outside funds are money dedicated for specific purpose and can include grants and donations, contract revenues, revenues from services, and other revenues specifically dedicated for a particular purpose.
Commissioners also approved capital improvements for 2023. A total of $9.3 million is budgeted with $8.28 million coming from the general fund.
The costliest project on tap for facilities is a building retrofit for $2.8 million. At family court, the boiler, chiller and tower replacement will eat up another $2.1 million.
Other departments with capital projects are the county jail, $1.475 million; solid waste, $575,000; common pleas court, $540,000; sanitary engineer, $370,000; CSI, CTF, juvenile justice center, and recreation center, $250,000 apiece; treasurer’s office, $160,000; vehicle maintenance and Spencer Township, $100,000 each; engineer sign shop, $55,000, and road maintenance, $25,000.
Personnel/Board Members Following a 50-minute executive session, the commissioners employed Carl Fields as plant maintenance specialist at the water resource recovery facility at an hourly rate of $21.32.
They also hired Donovan Haupricht, Debra Kanjuparamban, Jeff Mullins and Amy Mungons to specialist two positions in the job and family services department. They will be paid $17.51 per hour.
In other employee matters, they amended the paid holidays policy for non-bargaining unit employees, changing from half-day to full-day holiday for New Year’s Eve.
The commissioners also approved a temporary COVID emergency, paid sick leave policy, and extended on a month-to-month basis the employee assistance program contract with Lighthouse Telehealth LLC, effective January 1.
A number of area residents were reappointed to terms on boards.
Michael Dansack will continue to serve on the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library board of trustees for a seven-year term, expiring January 10, 2030.
Six residents were reappointed to the children’s services board for four-year terms expiring December 31, 2027. They are Abby Arnold, Suzette Cowell, Donald Perryman, Dan Ridi, John Schinharl and Kathy Vasquez.
JFS
Requests by the department of job and family services to enter into a number of agreements were greenlighted by the commissioners.
Those agreements are with: Farm Labor Research Project Inc. for provision of the employment readiness and youth empowerment program, $182,926; Center of Hope Family Services Inc. for family navigator program, $338,784; Hope Toledo for pre-kindergarten program, $249,819; family and children first council for two-generational pilot project, $7,000, and bridges out of poverty, $335,570; Local Initiative Support Corporation for employment incentive program, $124,297, and financial education services, $400,000; Pathway Inc. for brothers and sisters united parenting, $305,000, and Promedica Hospital and Russell J. Ebeid Children’s Hospital to assist with eligibility determination for public assistance, $92, 924.
Other Business
In other business, the commissioners:
•Renewed property insurance for 2023 with the Hylant Group for $395,000.
•Entered into an agreement with RIP Medical Debt for $800,000. The nonprofit will acquire and eliminate qualifying medical debt for eligible county residents of up to $240 million, impacting up to 42,000 residents.
•Appointed the county economic development corporation to act as agent on behalf of the county for acquisition and redevelopment of 1301 Washington Street, Toledo, which will be the location for the county facilities department.
•Agreed to advertise for marketing services, the goal of which is to create a recruitment campaign to fill openings at the department of job and family services and canine care and control.
•Amended the mileage reimbursement policy to align with the process of submitting mileage for reimbursement.
•Authorized the sanitary engineer to purchase a trailer mounted valve exerciser machine for $75,119. The unit will allow for better operations and maintenance of the water system valves.
•Approved a management agreement with Suburban Girls Softball for management of the ballfields and related premises at the county recreation center.
•Contracted with JH Consulting to update the county’s all-natural hazard mitigation plan for $45,000. The commissioners also reached an agreement with Energy Harbor Nuclear Corporation for emergency planning and preparedness for the Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Station.
•Entered into contracts with PeopleReady and Renhill Company to provide temporary staff for canine care and control at a cost of $49,500.
•Approved agreements with Youth Advocate Program for re-entry support services, $201,799, and community treatment center programs, $355,365.
•Accepted a criminal justice coordinating council grant of $286,079.
•Purchased Cisco switches from Logicalis for $62,040.
