Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners meeting: February 27, 2025

Officials present:

• Alicia Reece, commissioner
• Denise Dreihaus, president
• Stephanie Summerow Dumas, vice president
• Holly Christmann, county administrator (Absent)
• Patrick Dressing, assistant prosecuting attorney, Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office
• Leslie Hervey, Hamilton Board of Commissioners clerk
• Kristie Rechel, Hamilton Board of Commissioners assistant clerk 

Meeting convened

The meeting was called to order at 10:02 a.m. with Commission President Denise Driehaus presiding.  After silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, Driehaus proposed approval of minutes from the previous meeting; they were unanimously adopted. 

Presentation

The next order of business was a presentation of the City’s proclamation honoring Jayla Twitty, celebrating excellence in Professional Women’s Rugby (attachment A). As a Withrow University student, she was also a member of the Walnut Hills High School Rugby Team where she helped them win three state titles. She was selected Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019 from among 350 entries submitted to the Women’s Chicago Rugby Team commissioners. Twitty is the granddaughter of former Assistant Police Chief, Ron Twitty of the Cincinnati Police Department.

Next was the presentation of Dr. Katherine Wyche, founder of Love You to Life, a behavioral and mental health agency providing counseling and coping resources to youth. Dr. Wyche stated this concept had been in development for a while.  The Perfection Brunch of Aug. 3, 2024, was well attended, she said – the services of  Love You to Life were announced there. Commissioner Reeee stated, “… This is a roadmap for youth.” Dumas voiced her appreciation for Love You to Life serving a diverse population.

Dr. Katherine Wyche, founder of Love You to Life can be contacted at 513-580-3200 or loveu2.life@outlook.com  

Public hearing : County Engineer Rick Beck spoke about the Sidewalk Repair and Replacement Program. It is managed through the county engineer’s office. Every five years, sidewalks are assessed for their condition and their safety. Sidewalks showing splits in pavement, tree roots protruding and causing cracking, effects from salt treatments in winter, drainage problems and other forces affecting sidewalk safety warrant repair/replacement.  Any crack in a sidewalk measuring 5 inches or more is considered hazardous and needs repair or replacement.  Notifications were sent in January allowing property owners time to make repairs themselves.  If owners are not able to afford the repairs, they can access this program for repairs/replacement.  This program is possible, via a contract through the county, at an estimated cost of $21 per square foot with a 10% administrative fee. The county engineer estimates the average cost can range between $300 and $1,000. Owners would have 60 days to pay the contractor. If the bill was not paid within 60 days, the repair/replacement cost will be added to the owner’s property tax bill. 

Commissioner comments in response to hearing

Reece: Reece stated her concern for property owners given  the current state of the country and the economy  and how “there should be a balance between safety and a safety net.”

The county engineer responded, “…repair/replacement of sidewalks where needed is a matter of public safety.  We will work with them to get repairs/replacement done.” He added that a progress report will be forthcoming to the committee in April. Driehaus motioned to close the hearing; Reece seconded.  

Comments and motions

Commission Vice President Stephanie Summerow Dumas reminded everyone that this is Black History Month.  She shared her attendance (from 2/20 through 2/27) at several luncheons honoring the month.  She said that four individuals were recognized (no names were given) at the Black History Honors Luncheon. The  Delegation Luncheon, for state senators and state representatives, was more productive than usual as they were able to discuss several issues.   Dumas also attended the Alloy Economic Development event where Julie Calvert was the speaker. Dumas thanked her for mentioning the recent Lincoln Heights – Evendale incident where white men wearing neo-Nazi garb and carrying neo-Nazi flags appeared on the I-75 overpass near Lincoln Heights. “This is still going on,” Dumas said of the incident, “handing out hate flyers, driving through the neighborhood to provoke and intimidate people.”  

She went on to quote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “We won’t remember the words of our enemies; we will remember the silence of our friends” and ”Injustice is a threat to justice everywhere.”  Dumas ended her report by congratulating Driehaus on the great State of the County address delivered the night before.  Dumas applauded the board as they have completed many projects for the community – “I am proud to be a member of the board.”  

Commissioner Reece: Reece began her report by also congratulating Driehaus on the 

State of the County address. She thanked her for highlighting the accomplishments of the board and noted that working as a team made those accomplishments possible.  She also thanked her for including the affordable housing issues and how the board provided assistance to address the crisis. The county has $60 million available to assist with housing development, not including HUD dollars. Reece shared her perspective on affordable housing, saying there is $158 million of American Rescue Plan Act money that could be used to create affordable housing in Hamilton County.  She reminded attendees that  “Washington is cutting money” and that creates new challenges.

Reece represented the board at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Vandalia Point in Northside, a new affordable housing complex with 52 new units. The county invested $2.7 million. She told the story of one of the new residents. He had lived in his car until he could save enough money to get a room; he now has his own apartment. Reece said Norwood Council Member Susan Hoover invited her to attend their Black History and Women’s Month celebrations, where she shared how the board has contributed to Norwood’s growth through economic development, stormwater maintenance and affordable housing. 

Reece attended the Delegation Luncheon referenced by Dumas. During this luncheon, Reece expressed concern about property taxes. She challenged state senators and state representatives to enact stopgap measures i.e. freeze property tax for seniors, reevaluate how taxes are determined etc. to ensure relief for the elderly.  Per Reece, state senators and state representatives “did not seem inclined to do anything.”

Regarding economic development, Reece shared Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposal to use sports betting tax to help defray property tax burden. However, Reece said she is unwilling to advocate for the Bengals, who are exempt from paying sales tax, to get any money for improvements without a new lease.  She said,  “The Bengals are the only team in the country with this type of lease.”  The Bengals pay no rent and no sales tax, yet they control the management, advertising, and wall colors within the stadium. Independently they want to go to Columbus with the board to advocate for them to benefit from receipt of taxes via the sports betting tax.  The commission has called upon the legislature to ensure there are no loopholes for the Bengals to reap money from the sports tax. There needs to be transparency, which can be achieved through public meetings, she said. “I am not in favor of going to Columbus with them without a stadium lease.”  

Responding to citizen and taxpayer complaints about the pothole problem in Cincinnati, Reece proposed the creation of a Pothole Strikeforce. This would be a request to the county engineer. Although residents can file complaints by calling 311,  that is usually after damage from hitting a pothole. Possibly,  the county engineer and the Small Business Administration could work together to contract the business out. “A man with a truck,” said Reece, could be incentivised and given a  plan to guide contractors in this process. This could free up workers to attend to other tasks.  As a matter of public safety, something needs to be done, she said. 

Lastly, Reece thanked her colleagues who assisted with the 14-day report on the  Evendale/Lincoln Heights incident.  A copy of the report was provided to the jurisdictions in question. There are still many questions to be answered and matters of safety to be discussed. The KKK’s anniversary is coming up and they are unwelcome to celebrate here, per Reece, adding that Nazis marching on the I-75 overpass or anywhere in Hamilton County is not welcome. Lincoln Heights citizens are feeling unsafe, she said. She said the Lincoln Heights community, Evendale Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Prosecutor’s Office and Emergency Management came together to develop an action plan.  The action steps agreed upon are:

1. Nick Crosley with the Emergency Management Team reported installation of an emergency alert system that should be installed by March 5.
   
2. Despite the presence of many citizens, police took no witness statements, nor did they file a police report of the incident. Pastor Julian Cook of Lincoln Heights Baptist Church and the Prosecutor’s Office will work together to obtain witness statements. The statements will be submitted to Evendale police and the Prosecutor’s office respectively.
   
3. The prosecutor ascertained that even though Evendale decided to hire someone to investigate the situation without involving the Lincoln Heights community,  the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office will conduct an independent investigation

Reece said businesses in the Lincoln Heights/Evendale vicinity need to step up, including General Electric.  Last but not least, since one of the neo-Nazi demonstrators left his dog in his car,  Reece stated the dog warden should be included in investigating this incident to determine if animal abuse occurred.  Lastly, Reece asked that the fire departments be involved and all fire hydrants be checked. She closed with thanking her colleagues for working with and supporting her in completing this report.   

Driehaus: Driehaus opened by thanking the board for their leadership and guidance inthe Evendale/Lincoln Heights situation.  When investigations are complete, the commission will receive the reports. She said she is encouraged the prosecutor’s office will be investigating. She said many Lincoln Heights residents voiced their concerns to the board. 

Leaving that incident, Driehaus began to share some of her other activities, as she had also attended the Delegation Luncheon. Later she represented the commission at the Forest Park Library breakfast, which gave elected officials an opportunity to exchange strategies.  Driehaus was the keynote speaker at the Alloy Development lunch, where she noted their support of the Small Business Association and business incubators in Norwood. She expressed her appreciation to all who were able to attend the State of the County address, which gave her an opportunity to share all the exciting projects, and successes, of the commission.   

Jeff Alluto: Driehasu spoke on his behalf, saying he was in Columbus receiving an award for leadership (no details given).  Driehaus informed folks that the Pay Equity Pledge is coming up and employers who want to sign on can do so by contacting her office by March 5.  Driehaus stated the county has 11 new employees.   

At this point, Reece reminded everyone of the 2025 return of the 513 Relief Bus. The kickoff is 2/27 at the Woodlawn Recreation Center.  Free glasses, produce, birth certificates, cancer screenings, services and job opportunities are available from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Dumas spoke up regarding the Bengals and a recent Bleacher Report story. With grading from A to F for teams in the NFL, the Bengals earned an overall F-.  Player treatment (food, training facilities, etc.) and treatment of player families (no accommodations for nursing moms, nowhere to shelter in inclement weather, etc.) scoring lowest of the grades. She also talked about the Bengals not paying sales tax.  

Regular agenda

The agenda is attached to this report and includes the Consent Agenda.  Items 1 and 2 were presented by the County Engineer. Driehaus motioned to accept the items as presented; Reece and Dumas sanctioned.  

The clerk read items 3 – 8; there was no discussion. 

Items 9 – 24 from the Department of Job & Family Services garnered comments from Driehaus regarding the increasing cost to care for children in the system.  The rise in cost was attributed to the complexity of the cases coming in, the escalating cost of children’s services such as hospital trauma care, mental health services and  wraparound care. Driehaus introduced  Reginald Staples, a lawyer with Dinsmore & Shoals, and referred any questions regarding Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to him. 

 Item 25 drew no discussion.

 Attachment 2 includes all agenda items. 

 A motion to adopt the Consent Agenda was made by Driehaus; Reece and Dumas sanctioned. 

The meeting adjourned 11:11 a.m.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcincinnati.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Find more Documenters’ notes on Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners here.